Temporal stability of rhythmic tapping ''on'' and ''off the beat'': A developmental study

Author(s): Geuze, R. H.

Journal/Book: Psychol Res Psychol Forsch. 2000; 63: 175 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA. Springer Verlag. 62-69.

Abstract: This study, following a dynamic pattern approach. Examines age-related differences in the stability of unimanual rhythmic perception-action patterns. Thirty-sis children, aged 7, 9, and 11 years, attempted to synchronize their finger tapping to the beats of an auditory metronome, either ''on the beat'' (i.e., in-phase coordination), or ''off the beat'' (i.e., antiphase coordination). The temporal stability of these perception-action patterns was measured by the variability of the relative phase between taps and auditory events and by the critical frequency, that is, the frequency at which a loss of stability was observed when the metronome frequency was increased. Age-related differences in stability were found for both relative phase variability and critical frequency. These findings suggest that the relative phase dynamics underlying perception-action coordination patterns change with age in the direction of an increased temporal stability.

Note: Article Volman MJM, Univ Utrecht, Dept Educ Sci, Heidelberglaan 1, NL-3584 CS Utrecht, NETHERLANDS

Keyword(s): PHASE-TRANSITIONS; BIMANUAL COORDINATION; PERIOD CORRECTION; CLUMSY CHILDREN; MOVEMENTS; SYNCHRONIZATION; PATTERNS; TRACKING; MODEL; SKILL

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