Physical and neural entrainment to rhythm: human sensorimotor coordination across tasks and effector systems

Abstract

The human sensorimotor system can be readily entrained to environmental rhythms, through multiple sensory modalities. In this review, we provide an overview of theories of timekeeping that make this neuroentrainment possible. First, we present recent evidence that contests the assumptions made in classic timekeeper models. The role of state estimation, sensory feedback and movement parameters on the organization of sensorimotor timing are discussed in the context of recent experiments that examined simultaneous timing and force control. This discussion is extended to the study of coordinated multi-effector movements and how they may be entrained.

Keywords: force control; neuroentrainment; rhythm; sensorimotor coordination; state estimation; timekeeping.

Figure 1

Correlation patterns between the asynchronies and the two preceding and two following phases To and Away observed in synchronized tapping and oscillation tasks. The + and − signs represent the positive or negative correlations between the phases and the related asynchrony. During discrete tapping the duration of a given Away phase is related to both the preceding and the succeeding asynchronies. During smooth finger oscillations, two consecutive asynchronies do not happen to be correlated with the same semi-cycle (reproduced with permission from Torre and Balasubramaniam, 2009).

Figure 2

(A) Force produced during rhythmic entrainment. (B) Force produced during rhythmic entrainment when the entraining stimulus is extinguished at 10 s. It is readily noticed that the force escalation effect that is pronounced in the baseline and sham condition is reduced due to cTBS (reproduced with permission from Therrien et al., 2011).