(Some) Theories



  1. Frequency Ratio: consonance evoked by simple frequency ratios (Leibniz, Euler, Lipps ...)

  2. Temporal Dissonance: dissonance evoked by rapid beating (Helmholtz)

  3. Amplitude Fluctuations: dissonance evoked by rapid AM (~35 Hz)

  4. Neural Synchrony: consonance evoked by synchronous neural firings (Boomsliter & Creel, 1961)

  5. Periodicity Length: consonance evoked by short cycle of signal repetition (Irvine, 1946)

  6. Difference Tones: dissonance evoked by strong audible difference tones

  7. Tonal Fusion: consonance evoked when tones fuse perceptually (Stumpf, 1890)

  8. Virtual Pitch: dissonance evoked by competing (unclear) virtual pitches (Terhardt, 1974)

  9. Pitch Image Resolution: dissonance evoked when pitch perception is slow (Resnick, 1981)

  10. Expectation Violations: dissonance evoked when a (learned) expectation is violated (Cazden, 1980)

  11. Tonotopic Interference: dissonance is evoked by interactions along basilar membrane (Greenwood, 1961; Plomp & Levelt, 1965; Kameoka & Kuriyagawa)

  12. others ...