Sensorimotor Synchronization with Different Metrical Levels of Point-Light Dance Movements

Abstract

Rhythm perception and synchronization have been extensively investigated in the auditory domain, as they underlie means of human communication such as music and speech. Although recent studies suggest comparable mechanisms for synchronizing with periodically moving visual objects, the extent to which it applies to ecologically relevant information, such as the rhythm of complex biological motion, remains unknown. The present study addressed this issue by linking rhythm of music and dance in the framework of action-perception coupling. As a previous study showed that observers perceived multiple metrical periodicities in dance movements that embodied this structure, the present study examined whether sensorimotor synchronization (SMS) to dance movements resembles what is known of auditory SMS. Participants watched a point-light figure performing two basic steps of Swing dance cyclically, in which the trunk bounced at every beat and the limbs moved at every second beat, forming two metrical periodicities. Participants tapped synchronously to the bounce of the trunk with or without the limbs moving in the stimuli (Experiment 1), or tapped synchronously to the leg movements with or without the trunk bouncing simultaneously (Experiment 2). Results showed that, while synchronization with the bounce (lower-level pulse) was not influenced by the presence or absence of limb movements (metrical accent), synchronization with the legs (beat) was improved by the presence of the bounce (metrical subdivision) across different movement types. The latter finding parallels the “subdivision benefit” often demonstrated in auditory tasks, suggesting common sensorimotor mechanisms for visual rhythms in dance and auditory rhythms in music.

Bipedal Steps in the Development of Rhythmic Behavior in Humans

“…Perception of music, particularly in regards of rhythms, can be studied, among others, through the theoretical framework of embodied cognition (Grahn & Brett, 2007;Penhune & Zatorre, 2019;Su, 2016aSu, , 2016b. Even in non-embodied frameworks, rhythm perception and movement are tightly linked neurobiologically (Grahn & Brett, 2007;Penhune & Zatorre, 2019).…”

The Paradox of Isochrony in the Evolution of Human Rhythm

“…A third common human activity where isochrony is hypothesized to play a role is dance ( Fitch, 2016 ; Laland et al, 2016 ; Richter and Ostovar, 2016 ; Su, 2016a , b ). Similarly to music, a series of isochronous events, such as a drum line, may provide anchor points in time used to structure dance movements ( Fitch, 2016 ; Laland et al, 2016 ).…”

“…Similarly to music, a series of isochronous events, such as a drum line, may provide anchor points in time used to structure dance movements ( Fitch, 2016 ; Laland et al, 2016 ). Likewise, biophysical constraints on movement produce isochronous or integer ratio temporal intervals (e.g., Merker et al, 2009 ; Su, 2016a ). This isochrony-centered perspective might however be quite specific for dance in humans inhabiting the Western world.…”

Correspondences Between Music and Involuntary Human Micromotion During Standstill

“…The intricate relationships between music and human body motion has been of interest to researchers for several decades, but recent technological developments have allowed for more robust and thorough studies, with works focusing on music-induced motion, music performance, and general sensorimotor synchronization (Gritten and King, 2006 ; Jensenius, 2007 ; Nusseck and Wanderley, 2009 ; Maes et al, 2014a ; Su, 2016 ). Moreover, works on sensorimotor synchronization (SMS) have shown what appears to be a predisposition for humans to synchronize motion to periodic stimuli sequences even in the presence of continuous tempo changes (Repp and Su, 2013 ; van der Steen et al, 2015 ; Burger et al, 2017 ).…”