ResearchAuditory Perception & Cognition
Musical Reasoning without a Mind’s Ear: A Comparative Case Study
TolmanMarch 2026
Our summary in plain words
What This Study Is About
This research explores how musicians who cannot "hear" music in their minds—a condition called anauralia (auditory aphantasia)—are still able to learn, practice, and perform complex pieces. It investigates the alternative strategies these individuals use to think about sound when they lack a "mind's ear."
How They Studied It
The researcher conducted an in-depth study of musicians who report a complete absence of auditory imagery (the ability to mentally replay sounds). The study involved qualitative interviews and task-based observations to see how these musicians prepared for performances. Their experiences were compared against existing theories of musical cognition and data from "typical" imagers who can easily conjure melodies in their heads.
What They Found
The study found that musicians with anauralia do not need an internal "audio playback" to be successful. Instead, they rely on a combination of four "imagery-independent" strategies:
Kinesthetic scaffolding: Relying on the physical "feel" and muscle memory of playing an instrument.
Visual/Notational support: Using the mental or physical image of sheet music and finger patterns.
Verbal mediation: Using words or labels to describe musical structures.
Theoretical reasoning: Using an understanding of music theory to predict and organize what comes next.
What This Might Mean
This suggests that musical thinking is "multimodal," meaning it can be built from many different building blocks, not just sound. While traditional music education often tells students to "hear the note before you play it," this research indicates that such instructions may be unhelpful for those with anauralia. It highlights a need for more inclusive teaching methods that recognize different ways of processing music. However, the study notes that while these musicians are highly capable, they may feel less flexible in spontaneous situations, like jazz improvisation, where "inner hearing" is often heavily emphasized.
One Interesting Detail
The study points out that because people with anauralia often perform just as well as typical imagers on standard tests, their unique way of thinking is often "masked" or invisible to teachers and researchers until they are asked specifically about their internal experience.
This summary was written with AI and may contain errors. Check the original paper.
Authors
David Tolman
Los Angeles City College
1 paper in the library
Cite this paper
Tolman, D. (2026). Musical reasoning without a mind’s ear: a comparative case study. Auditory Perception & Cognition, 1–14. doi:10.1080/25742442.2026.2640817
Topics
Most-cited researchers
Recruit participants for your study
We can help you reach people across the imagery spectrum, from aphantasia to hyperphantasia.
Partner with usImage-Free Insights
A short note from our founder, Tom Ebeyer, every other week, plus occasional news and invitations to take part in studies. Change what you get from any email.