Chapter 8 The perception of auditory patterns

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews two approaches to the issue of the way elements of perceptual arrays are grouped together. The first approach assumes that the perceptual system forms groupings based on a number of primitive organizational principles. Another approach to perceptual organization argues that the observer employs perceptual principles that give rise to the most effective interpretation of the environment. The chapter describes the perception of auditory and musical patterns from several points of view. The chapter explores ways in which the elements of auditory arrays are perceptually grouped together and focuses on the types of shape abstractions carried out by the auditory system. It is clear from the phenomena that auditory perception is mediated by a highly complex and sophisticated system.