(abbrev. HR) The speed of the beating heart measured in beats per minute. A number of acoustical factors are known to influence the heart rate of listeners. Sounds that are associated with fear or concern tend to produce an increase in heart rate. Sounds that command our attention tend to evoke a momentary decrease in heart rate, followed by a brie [..]

School of Music Music Cognition Handbook: A Glossary of Concepts By David Huron Dictionary definitions for some 300 technical terms and concepts related to the field of music cognition.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. A absolute pitch (AP) The name given by psychologists to the phenomenon musicians call perfect pitch. The ability found in a minority of listeners, where the pitch of a tone can be accurately identified without relying on an external reference pitch. See also pitch, Hick-Hyman Law, colored hearin [..]

Pertaining to the objective physics of sound. Used in contrast to auditory -- which pertains to the subjective experience of a sound. For example, frequency is a physical or acoustical property, whereas pitch is a subjective or auditory property.

The time of the day when an individual is typically at his/her greatest arousal or energy level. Introverts tend to reach acrophase earlier in the day than is the case for extroverts (Tayer, 1996; p.16). See also arousal, arousal compatibility preference, personality.

The condition where a person willfully directs their mental consideration at some stimulus. In contrast to passive attention, active attention is voluntary. See also attention. Compare with arousal.

See epinephrine.

Nerves which convey signals to the brain from various parts of the body. Afferent nerves communicate sensory and proprioceptive information such as pain, pressure, taste, sound, sight, etc. to the brain. Contrasts with efferent nerves.

A neurological disorder which causes a partial or complete loss of the ability to recognize otherwise familiar stimuli. Auditory agnosia is an inability to recognize sounds. See also agraphia, amusia, anomia, alexia, aphasia, aprosodia.

A neurological disorder which causes a partial or complete loss of a former ability to write. Loss of the ability to notate music is known as musical agraphia. See also agnosia, alexia, amusia, anomia, aphasia, aprosodia.