The Timing of Endpoints in Movement

Abstract : The issue of temporal control of motor behavior was investigated using a rhythmic tapping task. It was found that: (1) subjects are better able to tap before a beat than after a beat; (2) the variability of tapping depends on whether the subject is attempting to tap on, before, or after a beat; (3) the control of rhythmic tapping is relatively central; (4) the starting times of taps are more variable than the ending times. These results are interpreted in terms of a model by Wing (1980), and their significance for theories of timing is discussed. (Author)