Tests of parallel versus integrated structure in polyrhythmic tapping.

Musically trained subjects tapped three beats with their right hand versus two beats with their left hand in synchrony with two corresponding tones. For independent groups of subjects, the pitch difference of the two tones was either small to encourage an integrated perceptual organization or large to encourage a streamed perceptual organization. Integrated versus parallel motor organization was tested by examining the pattern of covariances among intertap intervals. All subjects exhibited integrated motor organization. An integrated multiplicative hierarchical model of motor organization was superior to a serial chained model and to an independent hierarchical model in describing the pattern of covariances. The subjects who heard tones that encouraged an integrated percept performed with less variability than the subjects who heard tones that encouraged a streamed percept. This superior performance with an integrated motor organization and an integrated rather than a streamed perceptual organization is interpreted as evidence for temporal perceptual-motor compatibility.

[1]  D. Vorberg,et al.  Timing of Two‐Handed Rhythmic Performance a , 1984, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[2]  Stuart T. Klapp,et al.  Whole-Task And Part-Task Training In Dual Motor Tasks , 1987 .

[3]  D. Gentner.  Timing of Skilled Motor Performance: Tests of the Proportional Duration Model. , 1987 .

[4]  L. H. Shaffer,et al.  Performances of Chopin, Bach, and Bartok: Studies in motor programming , 1981, Cognitive Psychology.

[5]  P. Fitts,et al.  S-R compatibility: spatial characteristics of stimulus and response codes. , 1953, Journal of experimental psychology.

[6]  M. R. Jones,et al.  Time, our lost dimension: toward a new theory of perception, attention, and memory. , 1976, Psychological review.

[7]  D Deutsch,et al.  The generation of two isochronous sequences in parallel , 1983, Perception & psychophysics.

[8]  K. Lashley.  The problem of serial order in behavior , 1951 .

[9]  L. A. Goodman.  On the Exact Variance of Products , 1960 .

[10]  Richard J. Jagacinski,et al.  On marching to two different drummers: perceptual aspects of the difficulties. , 1985 .

[11]  Adolf Kullak,et al.  The aesthetics of pianoforte-playing , 1972 .

[12]  J G Martin,et al.  Rhythmic (hierarchical) versus serial structure in speech and other behavior. , 1972, Psychological review.

[13]  D. Massaro,et al.  Cross-octave masking of single tones and musical sequences: The effects of structure on auditory recognition , 1976 .

[14]  A. Bregman,et al.  Primary auditory stream segregation and perception of order in rapid sequences of tones. , 1971, Journal of experimental psychology.

[15]  D. Meyer,et al.  Models for the speed and accuracy of aimed movements. , 1982, Psychological review.

[16]  S. T. Klapp,et al.  Doing two things at once: The role of temporal compatibility , 1979 .

[17]  A. Wing.  28 The Long and Short of Timing in Response Sequences , 1980 .

[18]  A. Wing.  Timing and Co-Ordination of Repetitive Bimanual Movements , 1982 .

[19]  A. Kristofferson,et al.  Response delays and the timing of discrete motor responses , 1973 .