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An efficient and adaptive test of auditory mental imagery
Rebecca W Gelding1, Peter M C Harrison2,3, Sebastian Silas3
1Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Psychological Research
|May 2, 2020
Summary
A new adaptive Pitch Imagery Arrow Task (aPIAT) efficiently measures auditory mental imagery. This tool correlates with musicality, working memory, and musical training, offering a better way to study music cognition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Music Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Auditory mental imagery is crucial for musicality, but objective measurement is lacking.
- Existing musical imagery tests have limitations in scope and methodology.
- The original Pitch Imagery Arrow Task (PIAT) was too lengthy for practical use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient and adaptive online test for auditory mental imagery ability.
- To refine the Pitch Imagery Arrow Task (PIAT) for broader accessibility and usability.
- To investigate the cognitive processes underlying pitch imagery.
Main Methods:
- Shortened the PIAT using adaptive testing and automatic item generation.
- Developed an online version of the test (adaptive Pitch Imagery Arrow Task: aPIAT).
- Utilized item response modeling to analyze cognitive processes.
Main Results:
- The aPIAT is an 8-minute adaptive online test suitable for diverse musical backgrounds.
- Performance on aPIAT correlated moderately to strongly with working memory and musical sophistication.
- Pitch imagery ability was predicted by mental tone manipulation and resistance to perceptual biases.
Conclusions:
- The aPIAT is an efficient and valid tool for assessing auditory mental imagery.
- This tool facilitates research into the relationship between pitch imagery and musicality.
- Findings highlight the importance of mental manipulation and bias resistance in pitch imagery.
