This chapter shows how research in a specific auditory domain, namely music, can lead to the development of functional models far more elaborate than initial reports of auditory agnosia had suggested. It argues that each domain should be explored in similar fashion in order to understand how sound events are recognized and what principles of cerebral organization are involved. This should lead to a better appreciation of the question of functional specificity by distinguishing general-purpose mechanisms from specialized mechanisms, thereby identifying the levels at which cognitive domains divide. For example, it is reasonable to assume that the processing of melodic contour is not specific to music but also participates in the perception of intonation contours in speech. If this is the case, any impairment at this level should necessarily disrupt both melody perception and sensitivity to intonation.