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No. 34: Jul-Aug 1984

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A Note On Perfect Pitch

An individual with perfect pitch can identify a tone without hearing a second tone for comparison. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that such individuals possess a set of frequency standards somewhere in their permanent memories. The less fortunate of us do not have the genes that lead to the construction of these cerebral frequency standards.

(Anonymous; "A Note on Perfect Pitch," Scientific American, 250:82, June 1984.)

Comment. Question 1. Does perfect pitch have any survival value that would stimulate its evolution? Question 2. How are these frequency standards coded on the genes?

From Science Frontiers #34, JUL-AUG 1984. � 1984-2000 William R. Corliss