One factor affecting the qualia of music perception is the major/minor mode distinction. Major modes are perceived as more arousing, happier, positive, brighter, and less awkward than minor modes. This difference in emotionality of modes is also affected by pitch direction, with ascending pitch associated with positive affect and decreasing pitch with negative affect. The present study examined whether pitch direction influenced the identification of major versus minor musical modes. In six experiments, participants were familiarized with ascending and descending major and minor modes. We then played ascending and descending scales or simple eight-note melodies and asked listeners to identify the mode (major or minor). Identification of mode was moderated by pitch direction: major modes were identified more accurately when played with ascending pitch, and minor modes were identified better when played with descending pitch. Additionally, we replicated the difference in emotional affect between major and minor modes. The crossover pattern in mode identification may result from dual activation of positive and negative constructs, under specific combinations of mode and pitch direction.

影响音乐感知质量的一个因素是主要/次要模式区别。与次要模式相比，主要模式被认为更具唤醒性，更加幸福，积极，明亮且不那么尴尬。模式的情绪差异也受音高方向的影响，上升音高与正向情感相关，而音调与负向情感相关。本研究检查了音高方向是否会影响主要和次要音乐模式的识别。在六个实验中，参与者熟悉了主要和次要模式的升序和降序。然后，我们弹起或递减的音阶或简单的八音调旋律，并要求听众识别模式（大或小）。模式识别由音高方向控制：以上升音调演奏时，主要模式被更准确地识别，而以下降音调演奏时，次要模式被更好地识别。此外，我们复制了主要和次要模式在情感上的差异。模式识别中的交叉模式可能是由于在模式和音高方向的特定组合下，正负构造的双重激活所致。