Autism and Perfect Pitch

Over the years the mystery of the ability ofand language-two areas that are less common
perfect pitch has only risen. There are manyamongst the Autistic. Some researchers theorize
several views as to how this ability arises inthat if certain parts of the brain could be turned
people and whether it can be successfullyoff, learning absolute pitch would be achieved
replicated in those without it. Absolute pitch, (notmore easily. By shutting of the parts of the brain
to be confused with relative pitch) is the ability ofthat might inhibit this development, a rapid
a person to correctly identify music notes withoutprogress in this area can be gained.
the assistance of references or musical guides.This view holds that the ability of perfect pitch is
This gift is so rare, that it is estimated that only alatent and present in everyone. This is proven
hundred out of every million people can claim towith observed development amongst people who
possess this ability.were exposed to musical instruments as children.
Although, there are some who believe that thisMany of these people later grew with the ability
ability is unattainable even with the use ofof absolute pitch. Because the brain is more
absolute pitch training very few challenge thereceptive during infancy than it is in later years, it
obvious fact that amongst Autistic people (alsois believed that the brain misinterprets the sounds
referred to as savants), the ability of perfectheard during this period to be a language. This
pitch is a lot more common. Amongst musicallymakes it possible for them to grow with this
inclined savants, the ability of absolute pitch is aability.
very common feature. There are many theoriesIf this is true, then this holding supports the
seeking to explain why this condition occurs asgrowing view that perfect pitch can be gained
frequently as it does within this group.with the right type of training. Just as Savants are
One popular reason is that the difficulty inable to develop perfect pitch by tuning
communication which is prevalent amongst thethemselves into the harmonics of the notes, so
autistic, increases their ability to develop this skillalso can special methods be used in achieving the
set. Research studies have revealed that the leftsame results amongst musical enthusiasts. This
side of the brain plays a key role amongst peoplediscovery has learnt support to the fact of
who are capable of perfect pitch. Amongst thisabsolute pitch training. If this latent ability is
group, this section of the brain is revealed to behampered by artificial factors during people's
almost twice as large when compared with MRIgrowth then, surely, there should be some way
scans with people without the ability.of removing these factors and increasing the
This region in the brain is also identified as beingchances that this rare gift will once again
responsible for processing of non verbal soundsreemerge.