The Contribution of Auditory Imagery and Visual Rhythm Perception to Sensorimotor Synchronization With External and Imagined Rhythm

Sensorimotor synchronization (SMS) refers to the temporal coordination of an external stimulus with movement. Our previous work revealed that while SMS with visual flashing patterns was less consistent than with auditory or tactile patterns, it was still evident in a sample of nonmusicians. Although previous studies have speculated the potential role of auditory imagery, its contribution to visual SMS performance is not well quantified. Utilizing a synchronization-continuation finger-tapping task with a visual stimulus that included implied motion, we aimed to examine how participants' imagery ability, musicality, and rhythm perception affected SMS performance. We quantified participants' SMS consistency in synchronization (with visual cues) and continuation (without visual cues) phases. Participants also performed a perception task assessing their ability to detect temporal perturbations in the visual rhythm and completed musical ability and imagery questionnaires. Our linear regression model for SMS consistency included the trial phase, self-reported auditory imagery control and musicality, and visual rhythm perception as predictors. Significant effects of trial phase and auditory imagery scores on SMS consistency suggested that participants performed SMS more consistently while the guiding visual stimulus was present and that the higher one's self-reported auditory imagery ability, the better their SMS when continuing with unguided rhythm. One's visual rhythm perception accuracy significantly correlated with SMS consistency during the synchronization phase, and there was no correlation between rhythm perception and auditory imagery control. Overall, our results suggested relatively independent contributions of auditory imagery and visual rhythm perception to SMS with visual rhythm. Public Significance StatementExisting research predominantly focuses on sensorimotor synchronization (SMS) performance with auditory cues when exploring human propensity for rhythm. However, the significance of SMS linked to visual rhythm cannot be understated, particularly in activities like various sports where it plays a pivotal role. In the present study, while synchronizers' ability to perceive visual rhythm significantly correlated with SMS consistency during the synchronization phase, their self-reported control of auditory imagery significantly correlated with their finger-tapping SMS consistency during the continuation phase of a synchronization-continuation task. Ou