Exploring Frequency Range Effects on Pitch Discrimination in Normal-Hearing Adults

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Otorhinolaryngology department, Faculty of medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

2 elbadrymm@hotmail.com

Abstract

Abstract

Purpose of the study: This study investigated pitch discrimination abilities in normal-hearing adults using ecologically valid piano tones to assess how frequency range (C3 vs. C4 scales) and age influence performance.

Basic procedures: Twenty participants (aged 36–72) completed two interval discrimination tasks comparing reference tones (C3: 130 Hz; C4: 261 Hz) with eight semitone-spaced comparison tones. Stimuli were presented via an acoustic piano in a sound-attenuated room, and responses ("higher," "lower," or "same") were recorded. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests, correlation, and binomial tests.

Main findings: No significant difference emerged between C3 (64.4% accuracy) and C4 (65.6%) tasks, though C4 performance showed greater variability. Participants excelled at reference tones and perfect fifths but struggled with semitone discrimination (45–55% ac-curacy). A perceptual bias in the C4 range led to higher frequencies being misclassified as "lower." Age negatively correlated with C4 performance (r = −0.52, p = 0.02), while gender had no effect.

Principal conclusion: Pitch discrimination in normal-hearing adults is influenced by frequency range, interval size, and age, with high-frequency perception declining in older adults. These findings provide baseline data for auditory rehabilitation and music training paradigms.

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Minia Journal of Medical Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 October 2025

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