Formation of functional classes of musical stimuli

Abstract

This experiment aimed to verify the effect of discriminative training on the formation of functional classes of melodies, with different modes and tempos. Nine students attending the 2nd period of undergraduate psychology program were divided in three groups: Mode, Tempo and Mixed. The software SomPsi, specifically designed for this study, trained the participants and generated reports with information about performances in the four stages of the procedure. The proposed training was efficient for the formation of functional classes of sound stimuli. We observed that stimuli grouped by tempo were more easily discriminated than those grouped by melody. Combined manipulation of the two proprieties, in convergent condition, permitted participants' superior performance. The rapid formation of functional classes and equivalent musical stimuli, as from automated teaching of conditional musical stimuli relations, indicates the possibility of using this procedure in introduction to music.