Ammirante and Thompson’s intriguing article aims to enhance the ecological validity of their previous findings (Ammirante, Thompson, & Russo, in press) by using music-like melodic stimuli, rather than random pitch sequences. In line with this aim, I will briefly discuss three issues that may be taken into account in relating the motion-like qualities of melody to music and music-related behavior (finger tapping). First, I suggest how the authors’ hypotheses may be examined within a context in which tapping is affected by expectancies for a specific melodic continuation. Second, I discuss how timing and velocity changes associated with melodic distance and contour may give rise to a prototypical joint accent structure, integrating melodic, agogic and dynamic accent. Finally, I note a possible confound of melodic direction and tonality in Ammirante and Thompson’s stimuli, and suggest ways to examine the effects of these two dimensions separately.

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expectancies ammirante and thompsons stimuli motionlike qualities of melody melodic distance and contour musiclike melodic stimuli music and musicrelated behavior finger tapping dynamic accent finally timing and velocity changes tonality random pitch prototypical joint accent structure

Zohar Eitan,.Reaction, Anticipation and Accent in a Gravitational Pitch Space: Commentary on Ammirante and Thompson. 5 (3),.

Zohar Eitan,"Reaction, Anticipation and Accent in a Gravitational Pitch Space: Commentary on Ammirante and Thompson" 5

Zohar Eitan,"Reaction, Anticipation and Accent in a Gravitational Pitch Space: Commentary on Ammirante and Thompson"