Neural bases of rhythmic entrainment in humans: critical transformation between cortical and lower‐level representations of auditory rhythm

• DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13826
• Publication Date: 2018-01-22T16:52:10Z
• Authors: Sylvie Nozaradan; Marc Schönwiesner; Peter E. Keller; Tomas Lenc; Alexandre Lehmann
• Keywords: Entrainment (biomusicology)

The spontaneous ability to entrain meter periodicities is central music perception and production across cultures. There increasing evidence that this involves selective neural responses meter-related frequencies. This phenomenon has been observed in the human auditory cortex, yet it could be product of evolutionarily older lower-level properties brainstem neurons, as suggested by recent recordings from rodent midbrain. We addressed question taking advantage a new method simultaneously record EEG activity originating cortical sources, form slow (< 20 Hz) fast (> 150 rhythms. Cortical showed increased amplitudes at frequencies compared meter-unrelated frequencies, regardless prominence modulation spectrum rhythmic inputs. In contrast, frequency-following only rhythms with prominent input but not for more complex rhythm requiring endogenous generation meter. interaction complexity suggests enhancement does fully rely on subcortical properties, critically shaped level, possibly through functional connections between cortex other, movement-related, brain structures. process temporal selection would thus enable motor entrainment emerge substantial flexibility invariance respect humans contrast non-human animals.