This study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying melodic perception and pitch memory using positron emission tomography (PET) to measure cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes in twelve volunteers under four conditions: listening to noise bursts, unfamiliar tonal melodies, comparing the pitch of the first two notes of melodies, and comparing the pitch of the first and last notes of melodies. The results show that listening to melodies, compared to noise bursts, increases CBF in the right superior temporal and right occipital cortices. Pitch judgments of the first two notes of melodies activate the right frontal lobe, while the high memory load condition reveals activation in the right frontal and temporal lobes, as well as the parietal and insular cortices. Both pitch judgment conditions also show decreased CBF in the left primary auditory cortex. The study concludes that specialized neural systems in the right superior temporal cortex are involved in perceptual analysis of melodies, while pitch comparisons are processed through a network including the right prefrontal cortex. Active retention of pitch involves the interaction of the right temporal and frontal cortices. The findings support the hypothesis that the right hemisphere is particularly important for melody perception and pitch memory.This study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying melodic perception and pitch memory using positron emission tomography (PET) to measure cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes in twelve volunteers under four conditions: listening to noise bursts, unfamiliar tonal melodies, comparing the pitch of the first two notes of melodies, and comparing the pitch of the first and last notes of melodies. The results show that listening to melodies, compared to noise bursts, increases CBF in the right superior temporal and right occipital cortices. Pitch judgments of the first two notes of melodies activate the right frontal lobe, while the high memory load condition reveals activation in the right frontal and temporal lobes, as well as the parietal and insular cortices. Both pitch judgment conditions also show decreased CBF in the left primary auditory cortex. The study concludes that specialized neural systems in the right superior temporal cortex are involved in perceptual analysis of melodies, while pitch comparisons are processed through a network including the right prefrontal cortex. Active retention of pitch involves the interaction of the right temporal and frontal cortices. The findings support the hypothesis that the right hemisphere is particularly important for melody perception and pitch memory.