Do Preferred Beat Rate and Entrainment to the Beat Have a Common Origin in Movement?

Abstract

The idea that beat induction derives from body movement is attractive, but until recently unequivocal empirical evidence of such a linkage has been elusive. Todd et al. (2007) provide evidence that individual differences in locomotion affect preferred beat rate, and Phillips-Silver & Trainor (2005, 2007, under review) show that metrical interpretation is affected by movement. These studies examine different aspects of rhythm processing, but together provide converging evidence for pervasive movement/auditory interactions.