Neural synchronization is strongest to the spectral flux of slow music and depends on familiarity and beat salience

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.75515
• Publication Date: 2022-09-12T11:00:24Z
• Authors: Kristin Weineck; Olivia Xin Wen; Molly J Henry
• Keywords: Beat (acoustics); Salience (neuroscience); Spectral envelope; Auditory perception

Neural activity in the auditory system synchronizes to sound rhythms, and brain-environment synchronization is thought be fundamental successful perception. Sound rhythms are often operationalized terms of sound's amplitude envelope. We hypothesized that - especially for music envelope might not best capture complex spectro-temporal fluctuations give rise beat perception synchronized neural activity. This study investigated (1) different musical features, (2) tempo-dependence synchronization, (3) dependence on familiarity, enjoyment, ease In this electroencephalography study, 37 human participants listened tempo-modulated (1-4 Hz). Independent whether analysis approach was based temporal response functions (TRFs) or reliable components (RCA), spectral flux as opposed evoked strongest synchronization. Moreover, with slower rates, high easy-to-perceive beats elicited response. Our results demonstrate importance driving highlight its sensitivity tempo, salience.