The study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying melodic perception and memory for pitch using PET scans in 12 volunteers. Participants were exposed to four conditions: noise bursts, unfamiliar melodies, and pitch comparisons of first-two and first-last notes of melodies. PET images were subtracted and superimposed on MRI scans to identify CBF changes associated with specific cognitive functions. Listening to melodies increased CBF in the right superior temporal and occipital cortices. Pitch judgments of the first two notes activated the right frontal lobe. High memory load conditions involved multiple cortical and subcortical regions, including the right frontal and temporal lobes, parietal and insular cortex. Both pitch judgment conditions showed CBF decreases in the left primary auditory cortex. The study concludes that specialized neural systems in the right superior temporal cortex are involved in melodic perception, while pitch comparisons involve a neural network including the right prefrontal cortex. Active pitch retention involves interaction between right temporal and frontal cortices. The study also highlights the role of the right hemisphere in melody perception, with right temporal lobe lesions affecting pitch discrimination. The results suggest that right hemisphere mechanisms are crucial for melodic processing, with right temporal and frontal cortices involved in pitch retention and comparison. The findings support the idea of right hemisphere specialization for melodic processing and the interaction between temporal and frontal cortices in pitch-related tasks. The study also notes the importance of right hemisphere auditory processing in pitch discrimination and the role of the right inferior colliculus in pitch memory. The results indicate that the right hemisphere is specialized for melodic processing, with right temporal and frontal cortices involved in pitch retention and comparison. The study also highlights the role of the right hemisphere in auditory working memory and the interaction between temporal and frontal cortices in pitch-related tasks. The findings support the idea of right hemisphere specialization for melodic processing and the interaction between temporal and frontal cortices in pitch-related tasks.The study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying melodic perception and memory for pitch using PET scans in 12 volunteers. Participants were exposed to four conditions: noise bursts, unfamiliar melodies, and pitch comparisons of first-two and first-last notes of melodies. PET images were subtracted and superimposed on MRI scans to identify CBF changes associated with specific cognitive functions. Listening to melodies increased CBF in the right superior temporal and occipital cortices. Pitch judgments of the first two notes activated the right frontal lobe. High memory load conditions involved multiple cortical and subcortical regions, including the right frontal and temporal lobes, parietal and insular cortex. Both pitch judgment conditions showed CBF decreases in the left primary auditory cortex. The study concludes that specialized neural systems in the right superior temporal cortex are involved in melodic perception, while pitch comparisons involve a neural network including the right prefrontal cortex. Active pitch retention involves interaction between right temporal and frontal cortices. The study also highlights the role of the right hemisphere in melody perception, with right temporal lobe lesions affecting pitch discrimination. The results suggest that right hemisphere mechanisms are crucial for melodic processing, with right temporal and frontal cortices involved in pitch retention and comparison. The findings support the idea of right hemisphere specialization for melodic processing and the interaction between temporal and frontal cortices in pitch-related tasks. The study also notes the importance of right hemisphere auditory processing in pitch discrimination and the role of the right inferior colliculus in pitch memory. The results indicate that the right hemisphere is specialized for melodic processing, with right temporal and frontal cortices involved in pitch retention and comparison. The study also highlights the role of the right hemisphere in auditory working memory and the interaction between temporal and frontal cortices in pitch-related tasks. The findings support the idea of right hemisphere specialization for melodic processing and the interaction between temporal and frontal cortices in pitch-related tasks.