Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Exploration
Music perception is a captivating field that explores how humans perceive, process, and understand music. It's a truly interdisciplinary area, drawing insights from music, psychology, and other related fields.

Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal
Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the University of California Press five times a year. This journal serves as a vital platform for researchers to share their findings and contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this area.
Key Figures in Music Perception
Several prominent figures have made significant contributions to the field of music perception. These include:
- Diana Deutsch: Professor of Psychology.
- Jamshed Bharucha: President Emeritus.
- Robert Gjerdingen: Professor of Music at Northwestern University.
- Lola Cuddy: Professor Emerita of Psychology.
- Catherine (Kate) J. Stevens: Professor of Psychology & Director. She also edits Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal.
The Society for Music Perception and Cognition (SMPC)
Welcome to The Society for Music Perception and Cognition (SMPC), a not-for-profit scholarly organization dedicated to the study of music cognition. Join us as we explore one of the most fascinating aspects of being human.

The Society for Music Perception and Cognition (SMPC) serves as a hub for the study of music cognition.
Resources for Studying Music Cognition
The SMPC offers a variety of resources for those interested in learning more about music cognition:
- A detailed map of music cognition labs worldwide.
- A course syllabi bank from those teaching classes on music cognition and other related topics.
The impact factor, as reported in the 2018 Journal Citation Reports by Thomson Reuters, provides a quantitative measure of the journal's influence within the field.
| Name | Affiliation | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Diana Deutsch | Professor of Psychology | Research in auditory illusions and musical paradoxes |
| Jamshed Bharucha | President Emeritus | Contributions to understanding musical expectancy and schema |
| Robert Gjerdingen | Northwestern University | Research on music theory and its cognitive implications |
| Lola Cuddy | Professor Emerita of Psychology | Studies on memory for music and absolute pitch |
| Catherine (Kate) J. Stevens | Professor of Psychology & Director | Editor of Music Perception journal, research in rhythm and timing |