PhD: EEG studies on musical harmony perception
An acoustic stimulus, e.g., a musical harmony, is transformed in a highly nonlinear way in the ear and brain during the hearing process. The periodicity of complex chords can be detected in the brain [1]. Empirical findings show that the perceived consonance of a harmony decreases with increasing (relative) periodicity [2]. The periodicity pitch of a harmony, which is usually not present as a tone component in the stimulus, can be determined.
Can the periodicity pitch of a harmony be detected in the human brain?
To investigate this and related questions, I am looking for a committed doctoral student to continue the EEG experiments on periodicity pitch detection using FFR (Frequency Following Response) that were started in [3]. You will further develop the stimulus design, record and analyze EEG data, and evaluate and critically expand models for periodicity processing.
You bring:
* interest in neuroscience, signal processing, or auditory perception
* experience with EEG/neurophysiology or good statistics/programming/computer science skills
* knowledge of music theory and harmony
* motivation for research work
EEG equipment for conducting the experiments is available at Harz University of Applied Sciences in Wernigerode, namely a Brain Products EEG system with 96 channels [4]. A doctoral project (in cooperation with a partner university or through one of the doctoral centers at Harz University of Applied Sciences) can be funded by a scholarship [5].
If you are interested in advancing this exciting research question experimentally, please contact me with a brief outline of your previous experience and interests by 30-Nov-2025, at the latest.
Prof. Dr. rer.nat. habil. Frieder Stolzenburg
Prorektor für Forschung und Chancengleichheit
FB Automatisierung und Informatik
Hochschule Harz (Harz University of Applied Sciences)
Friedrichstr. 57-59
38855 Wernigerode
GERMANY
Raum (Office): 6.008a
Tel: +49 3943 659-333
Fax: +49 3943 659-399
E-Mail: fstolzenburg@hs-harz.de
WWW: http://www.hs-harz.de/fstolzenburg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frieder-stolzenburg-6b5039174/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxX0F5G8Z5UWC80kp2mO5uw
Zoom: http://hs-harz.zoom.us/my/fstolzenburg
References:
[1] Gerald Langner. The Neural Code of Pitch and Harmony. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2015.
[2] Frieder Stolzenburg. Harmony perception by periodicity detection. Journal of Mathematics and Music, 9(3):215-238, 2015. URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17459737.2015.1033024.
[3] Maria Heinze, Lars Hausfeld, Rainer Goebel, and Frieder Stolzenburg. Periodicity pitch detection in complex harmonies on EEG timeline data. arXiv:2002.04990, 2020. Latest revision 2024. URL: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2002.04990.
[4] 96-Kanal Forschungs-EEG-Verstärker Typ actiCHamp Plus 96 mit zusätzlichen 8 AUX Kanälen, inkl. 64 aktive Elektroden, 3 Hauben, Starterset und BrainVision Recorder Softwarelizenz
[5] Info: https://www.hs-harz.de/forschung/promotion/finanzierung/graduiertenfoerderung