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Science Frontiers ONLINE No. 34: Jul-Aug 1984 |
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A Note On Perfect Pitch
An individual with perfect pitch can identify a tone without hearing a second tone for comparison. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that such individuals possess a set of frequency standards somewhere in their permanent memories. The less fortunate of us do not have the genes that lead to the construction of these cerebral frequency standards.
(Anonymous; "A Note on Perfect Pitch," Scientific American, 250:82, June 1984.)
Comment. Question 1. Does perfect pitch have any survival value that would stimulate its evolution? Question 2. How are these frequency standards coded on the genes?