Comparison of mismatch fields elicited by changes in tonal and atonal sequences

Mismatch fields in magnetoencephalogram were recorded in ;ignore' condition while presenting combinations of standard and deviant tone sequences to the subjects to investigate how the structure of musical scale is represented in the brain function. Both tonal (having a key) and atonal sequences were employed to see the influence of tonality in eliciting mismatch fields. Mismatch fields were larger when the subject encountered the deviant sequence associated with the tonal sequence than with the atonal sequence suggesting connection between auditory cortical activity and recognition of 'key'.