Music Versus Metronome Timekeeper in a Rhythmic Motor Task

Author(s): Rathbun, J. A., Miller, R. A.

Journal/Book: International Journal of Arts Medicine. 1997; 5:

Abstract: The effect of music versus metronome presentation of auditory rhythm on synchronization error and variability of finger tapping was studied with a college age (n = 12) and an elderly age group (n = 12). The purpose of this study was to determine (a) which rhythmic stimulus would produce better tapping accuracy, (b) if rhythmic presentation mode would produce different synchronization strategies, and (c) what the implications of the results would be for therapeutic applications of auditory rhythm to motor recovery. Subjects tapped to the rhythmic stimulus in each condition at 6 different frequencies: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.5 Hz. Order of frequency was counterbalanced across subjects. Duration and variability of interresponse interval (IRI) and synchronization error (SE) were measured as indicators of rhythmic synchronization using a computerized tapping device. The music was in pentatonic folkmusic style in 2/4 meter programmed on a synthesizer/sequencer module as variable tempo driver. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that SE was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced with rhythmic cuing embedded in music at 4, 2, and 1 Hz. At 3 Hz, SE was identical but metronome taps were positioned before the beat and taps to the music occurred after the beat. At 5 and 0.5 Hz the finger taps showed smaller SE in the metronome condition. Music reduced tapping variability significantly at the slower frequencies of 1 and 0.5 Hz. Older subjects had significantly larger SE at 0.5 Hz, and tapped with larger variability across all frequencies. Low correlations between SE and IRI, as well as a preponderance of tapping ahead of the beat in the nonextreme frequencies, suggest that subjects achieved synchronization by matching their taps to the period of the interstimulus interval (ISI) rather than by continuous tap-to-beat matching and resetting tap interval durations at each beat. The data show differential effects of music versus metronome timekeeper presentation, depending on age, tapping frequency, and component of tapping performance considered. Furthermore, the data emphasize the importance of models of rhythmic synchronization and entrainment by providing evidence for specific mechanisms of rhythmic synchronization: Synchronization to music and metronome cuing appears to be mediated by the same timing strategies which seem to be primarily based on frequency matching rather than phase-locking mechanisms.

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