How the brain controls repetitive finger movements

Abstract

Adequate interaction with our physical and social environment requires accurate timing abilities. Since planning and control of movements is closely related to sensorimotor synchronization, the investigation of synchronization abilities may allow insights into fundamental principles of motor behaviour. The finger-tapping task has frequently been used to study the synchronization of one's own movements in relation to external events. Data from behavioural studies gave rise to the assumption that it is not the peripheral event (i.e., finger-tap or pacing signal) that is synchronized but its central representation. The neural foundations of sensorimotor synchronization have only recently been investigated and are still poorly understood. The present article reviews data from neurophysiological studies investigating sensorimotor synchronization to shed light on the neurophysiological processes associated with sensorimotor synchronization. This review focuses on studies investigating neuroelectric and neuromagnetic activity associated with simple repetitive synchronization tasks.