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Analysis of temporal structure in sound by the human brain

Nature Neuroscience volume 1, pages 422–427 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

For over a century, models of pitch perception have been based on the frequency composition of the sound. Pitch phenomena can also be explained, however, in terms of the time structure, or temporal regularity, of sounds. To locate the mechanism for the detection of temporal regularity in humans, we used functional imaging and a 'delay-and-add' noise, which activates all frequency regions uniformly, like noise, but which nevertheless produces strong pitch perceptions and tuneful melodies. This stimulus has temporal regularity that can be systematically altered. We found that the activity of primary auditory cortex increased with the regularity of the sound. Moreover, a melody composed of delay-and-add 'notes' produced a distinct pattern of activation in two areas of the temporal lobe distinct from primary auditory cortex. These results suggest a hierarchical analysis of time structure in the human brain.

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Figure 1: Spectral representations of complex sounds that produce a pitch perception of 62.5 Hz.
Figure 2: Time-interval representations (autocorrelograms) of complex sounds that produce a pitch perception of 62.5 Hz.
Figure 3: Main effect of temporal structure within the individual sounds (iteration).
Figure 4: Pitch sequences used as stimuli.
Figure 5: Iteration–melody interaction.

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Acknowledgements

T.D.G., C.B. and R.S.J.F. are supported by the Wellcome Trust. R.D.P. is supported by the MRC (UK).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiology Department, Centre for the Neural Basis of Hearing, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK

    Timothy D. Griffiths & Roy D. Patterson

  2. Wellcome Department of Cognitive Neurology, Institute of Neurology, 12 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK

    Timothy D. Griffiths, Christian Büchel & Richard S.J. Frackowiak

  3. Department of Physiological Sciences, Newcastle University Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK

    Timothy D. Griffiths

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  1. Timothy D. Griffiths
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  2. Christian Büchel
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Correspondence to Timothy D. Griffiths.

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Griffiths, T., Büchel, C., Frackowiak, R. et al. Analysis of temporal structure in sound by the human brain. Nat Neurosci 1, 422–427 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/1637

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