MedGen

Pulli et al. (2008) hypothesized that musical aptitude is an innate cognitive ability that can be partly explained by genetic regulation. Exceptional phenotypes of musical aptitude such as absolute pitch (159300) and amusia (191200) are also thought to have a genetic component. Since musical ability varies between individuals, it is likely a complex trait influenced by several underlying genes, environmental factors, and their interactions. [from OMIM]

Perfect pitch, or absolute pitch (AP), is defined as the ability immediately and effortlessly to name a note or collection of notes when they are sounded. Often, persons with perfect pitch possess a memory capacity whereby they can remember the pitch of a note and the configuration of a group or series of notes after a significant interval of time has elapsed. These recognitive and memory talents involve a potential capacity for performing these functions together with a practice factor which is necessary for the maintenance of the skills at the highest level (summary by Profita and Bidder, 1988). Absolute pitch likely results from a combination of environmental and genetic factors (Theusch et al., 2009). [from OMIM]

Tune deafness, or congenital amusia, is a lifelong deficient in music perception that cannot be explained by hearing loss, brain damage, intellectual deficiencies, or lack of exposure. The disorder affects predominantly the melodic pitch dimension (summary by Peretz et al., 2009). See 159300 for an opposite situation, that of musical perfect pitch. [from OMIM]

Focal dystonia, the most common form of dystonia, is often task-specific and referred to as FTSD. Specific learned motor tasks, such as writing or playing a musical instrument, can trigger muscle spasms and interfere with performance while other actions are unaffected. FTSD has a frequency of 1 in 3,400 in the general population but increases to 1 in 200 among musicians (Pullman and Hristova, 2005). [from OMIM]

An agnosia that is a loss of the ability to recognize musical notes, rhythms, and intervals. [from MONDO]

A focal dystonia of the fingers, hand, and/or forearm that appears when the affected person attempts to do a task that requires fine motor movements such as writing or playing a musical instrument. [from HPO]