Why auditory pitch and spatial elevation get high together: Shape of human ear may have evolved to mirror acoustics in natural world
Wednesday, April 9, 2014 - 07:52
in Psychology & Sociology
Have you ever wondered why most natural languages invariably use the same spatial attributes -- high versus low -- to describe auditory pitch? Or why, throughout the history of musical notation, high notes have been represented high on the staff? According to neuroscientists, high pitched sounds feel 'high' because, in our daily lives, sounds coming from high elevations are indeed more likely to be higher in pitch.