Ramesh Balasubramaniam, Ph.D.
Professor, Cognitive Science
University of California, Merced

 

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The role of the motor system in beat perception and timing

Abstract: Neural mechanisms supporting time perception are relevant to a broader understanding of how the human brain utilizes time in cognition and action. In this talk, I will focus on musical timing and review extensive previous work surrounding the perception of musical rhythms. First, I will try to define commonly used but ambiguous concepts including neural entrainment, simulation and prediction in the context of musical timing. Next, I will summarize recent work from our laboratory on sensorimotor timing during perception and performance. And finally, I will review the behavioral and neural evidence for the role played by the motor system in time and rhythm perception.