Flexible tapping synchronization in macaques: dynamic switching of timing strategies within rhythmic sequences

The ability to synchronize bodily movements with regular auditory rhythm across a broad range of tempos underlies humans' capacity for playing music and dancing. This capability is prevalent across human cultures but relatively uncommon among nonhuman species. Recent research indicates that monkeys can predictively synchronize to regular, isochronous metronomes, exhibiting a preference for visual rather than auditory sequences. In this study, we trained macaques to perform a visual synchronization tapping task, testing their synchronization abilities over a wide tempo range and characterizing their precision and accuracy in timing intervals throughout rhythmic sequences. In addition, we investigated whether the macaques used priors or error correction strategies to maintain synchrony with the metronome. Our findings demonstrate that, following sufficient training, macaques exhibit a remarkable capability to synchronize across diverse tempos. Through an inference model analysis, we identified two distinct timing control strategies used by the macaques: an initial strong regression-to-the-mean effect transitioning dynamically into a more precise error correction approach at their preferred tempo. These results provide compelling evidence that primates possess sophisticated rhythmic timing mechanisms, effectively leveraging internal and external cues to regulate their tapping behavior according to task demands.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We trained macaques in a visual synchronization tapping task and using an inference model, we found that they are highly precise and accurate in their rhythmic performance. The model also captured a dynamic switch in behavior. At the beginning of the task, the monkeys used their prior knowledge about the interval statistics and then switched to an error correction mechanism to generate intervals depending on the previously produced duration.