Tune Deafness and the Brain (broadcast Friday, June 13th, 2008)

Some people just can't carry a tune -- not because they have poor voices, but because the difference between 'right' and 'wrong' notes isn't significant to them. Writing this week in the journal PLOS One, however, a team of researchers report that the brains of tune-deaf people do actually react to incorrect notes unconsciously. And while the work is unlikely to lead to improvements in the musical performance of tune-deaf people, studying the genetics and brain behavior of these people could help researchers better understand the differences between conscious and unconscious thought. We'll talk with one of the scientists on the project about the work and what it means. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests

Allen Braun
Chief, Language Section
Voice, Speech, and Language Branch
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland

Related Links

Segment produced by:Charles Bergquist

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Support for Science Friday provided in part by the Noyce Foundation and The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation