Marcus Pearce: “Learning to Listen: Music Perception as a Process of Probabilistic Prediction Using Models Acquired Through Enculturation”

Marcus Pearce, Queen Mary University of London (UK): “Learning to Listen: Music Perception as a Process of Probabilistic Prediction Using Models Acquired Through Enculturation”

Abstract
Music is a cultural phenomenon whose evolution arises through a process of iterated learning between individuals across generations; music perception reflects this process of learning through enculturation. I will present and evaluate a theory of music perception which posits an internal predictive model derived from statistical learning of musical structure on a range of timescales. The theory is implemented in a computational model and empirical results demonstrate that the model can account for perception of different parameters of music (melody, rhythm and harmony), different psychological processes within music perception (expectation, appreciation, memory, similarity and grouping perception) and observed differences in perception between musical cultures. Finally, limitations and extensions of the approach will be discussed.