Tapping in synchrony to auditory rhythms: effect of temporal structure on behavior and neural activity

This study examines how synchronizing movements to auditory rhythms affects behavioral performance and neural activity as assessed using fMRI. Subjects perform worse as they tap along with increasingly complex musical rhythms, with responses becoming progressively asynchronous. This behavioral change also correlates with increasing neural activity in several motor-related brain regions, such as the cerebellum and premotor cortex (medial and lateral), highlighting the role of these areas in auditory-motor interactions during temporal processing.