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Associations between auditory pitch and visual elevation do not depend on language: evidence from a remote population
Carolyn Parkinson1, Peter Jes Kohler, Beau Sievers
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, 6207 Moore Hall, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
Perception
|November 20, 2012
Summary
Cross-modal correspondences between sound pitch and visual height exist even without spatial language. This suggests universal perceptual links, not just linguistic reflection, influencing how we map pitch to elevation.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Cross-modal Perception
- Linguistics
Background:
- Widespread linguistic associations link auditory pitch with visual elevation.
- It is unclear if these linguistic links stem from perceptual correspondences or vice versa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the origin of pitch-height associations.
- To determine if cross-modal mappings between pitch and elevation exist independently of language.
Main Methods:
- Studied the Kreung hill tribe in Cambodia, who lack spatial language for pitch.
- Participants performed a task involving visual stimuli (rising/falling shapes) and auditory stimuli (rising/falling pitch).
Main Results:
- The Kreung demonstrated similar pitch-height associations as found in other populations.
- These associations were observed despite the absence of spatial pitch language.
Conclusions:
- Cross-modal associations between visual elevation and auditory pitch can emerge independently of linguistic influence.
- Widespread linguistic pitch-height associations may reflect underlying, universal perceptual predispositions.
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