| When people listen to music, they often wiggle or tap in synchrony with the musical beat, a phenomenon called auditory-motor synchronization. Interestingly, both athletic and impaired rhythmic movements seem to profit from a coupling to acoustic rhythms. However, how such rhythms are best configured to yield optimal performance or therapeutic effects is still largely unknown. The proposed research addresses this issue by examining the ?anchoring? of rhythmic movements to the acoustic stimuli, resulting in local reductions in kinematic variability called ?anchor points?. The leading hypothesis is that anchoring points result from competing constraints and demands related to coordinative stability and attentional load. Although coordinative stability and attentional load refer to different theoretical approaches, namely dynamical systems theory and information processing, they are both crucial for performance, as is especially evident in patients with movement disorders. The leading hypothesis is tested by determining the effect of the number of externally imposed anchor points on the stability and attentional load of auditory-motor synchronization, as well as the adopted type of control (i.e., error correction vs. open-loop control) at those points. The studies in question, one of which will be performed in an international collaboration, will enhance the basic understanding of auditory-motor synchronization and possibly help reconcile dynamical systems and information-processing approaches to auditory-motor coordination. In addition, generalization of the obtained findings and insights is sought by examining how acoustic signals should be configured to yield optimal effects in therapeutic settings. To this end, a clinical project is included comparing the stability and attentional load of step- and stride-paced treadmill walking in stroke patients. The explicit purpose of this last project is to improve rehabilitation practice by establishing guidelines regarding the optimal configuration of auditory pacing protocols for therapeutic interventions. |
