Absolute pitch: A case study

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Abstract
A person, who possessed absolute pitch for almost any tone or chord over the normal musical range, from about the age of 17 to 52 was studied. He then started to hear all music 1 semitone too high, and now at the age of 71 it is heard a full tone above the true pitch. Tests were carried out under controlled conditions, in which 68-95% of notes were identified as 1 semitone or 1 tone higher than they should be. Changes with aging seem more likely to occur in the elasticity of the basilar membrane mechanisms than in the long-term memory which is used for aural analysis of complex sounds. The view that some resolution of complex sounds takes place at the peripheral sense organ was supported, and this provides information which can be incorrect for interpretation by the cortical centers.

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