How Beat Perception Co-opts Motor Neurophysiology.

TitleHow Beat Perception Co-opts Motor Neurophysiology.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsCannon JJ, Patel AD
JournalTrends Cogn Sci
Volume25
Issue2
Pagination137-150
Date Published2021 Feb
ISSN1879-307X
Abstract

Beat perception offers cognitive scientists an exciting opportunity to explore how cognition and action are intertwined in the brain even in the absence of movement. Many believe the motor system predicts the timing of beats, yet current models of beat perception do not specify how this is neurally implemented. Drawing on recent insights into the neurocomputational properties of the motor system, we propose that beat anticipation relies on action-like processes consisting of precisely patterned neural time-keeping activity in the supplementary motor area (SMA), orchestrated and sequenced by activity in the dorsal striatum. In addition to synthesizing recent advances in cognitive science and motor neuroscience, our framework provides testable predictions to guide future work.

DOI10.1016/j.tics.2020.11.002
Alternate JournalTrends Cogn Sci
PubMed ID33353800