From Sound to Movement: Mapping the Neural Mechanisms of Auditory–Motor Entrainment and Synchronization

Background: Humans exhibit a remarkable ability to synchronize their actions with external auditory stimuli through a process called auditory–motor or rhythmic entrainment. Positive effects of rhythmic entrainment have been demonstrated in adults with neurological movement disorders, yet the neural...

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Main Authors: Marija Pranjić, Thenille Braun Janzen, Nikolina Vukšić, Michael Thaut
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Brain Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1063
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author Marija Pranjić
Thenille Braun Janzen
Nikolina Vukšić
Michael Thaut
author_facet Marija Pranjić
Thenille Braun Janzen
Nikolina Vukšić
Michael Thaut
author_sort Marija Pranjić
collection DOAJ
description Background: Humans exhibit a remarkable ability to synchronize their actions with external auditory stimuli through a process called auditory–motor or rhythmic entrainment. Positive effects of rhythmic entrainment have been demonstrated in adults with neurological movement disorders, yet the neural substrates supporting the transformation of auditory input into timed rhythmic motor outputs are not fully understood. We aimed to systematically map and synthesize the research on the neural correlates of auditory–motor entrainment and synchronization. Methods: Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines for scoping reviews, a systematic search was conducted across four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, and Scopus) for articles published between 2013 and 2023. Results: From an initial return of 1430 records, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized based on the neuroimaging modality. There is converging evidence that auditory–motor synchronization engages bilateral cortical and subcortical networks, including the supplementary motor area, premotor cortex, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Specifically, the supplementary motor area and the basal ganglia are essential for beat-based timing and internally guided rhythmic movements, while the cerebellum plays an important role in tracking and processing complex rhythmic patterns and synchronizing to the external beat. Self-paced tapping is associated with additional activations in the prefrontal cortex and the basal ganglia, suggesting that tapping in the absence of auditory cues requires more neural resources. Lastly, existing studies indicate that movement rate and the type of music further modulate the EEG power in the alpha and beta frequency bands. Conclusions: These findings are discussed in the context of clinical implications and rhythm-based therapies.
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spelling doaj-art-df5efb40a0bf47c1b133480e1ba454ca2025-08-20T02:28:07ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-10-011411106310.3390/brainsci14111063From Sound to Movement: Mapping the Neural Mechanisms of Auditory–Motor Entrainment and SynchronizationMarija Pranjić0Thenille Braun Janzen1Nikolina Vukšić2Michael Thaut3Music and Health Science Research Collaboratory, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1C5, CanadaCenter of Mathematics, Computing and Cognition, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Sao Paulo 09606-045, BrazilIndependent Researcher, Zagreb 10000, CroatiaMusic and Health Science Research Collaboratory, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1C5, CanadaBackground: Humans exhibit a remarkable ability to synchronize their actions with external auditory stimuli through a process called auditory–motor or rhythmic entrainment. Positive effects of rhythmic entrainment have been demonstrated in adults with neurological movement disorders, yet the neural substrates supporting the transformation of auditory input into timed rhythmic motor outputs are not fully understood. We aimed to systematically map and synthesize the research on the neural correlates of auditory–motor entrainment and synchronization. Methods: Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines for scoping reviews, a systematic search was conducted across four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, and Scopus) for articles published between 2013 and 2023. Results: From an initial return of 1430 records, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized based on the neuroimaging modality. There is converging evidence that auditory–motor synchronization engages bilateral cortical and subcortical networks, including the supplementary motor area, premotor cortex, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Specifically, the supplementary motor area and the basal ganglia are essential for beat-based timing and internally guided rhythmic movements, while the cerebellum plays an important role in tracking and processing complex rhythmic patterns and synchronizing to the external beat. Self-paced tapping is associated with additional activations in the prefrontal cortex and the basal ganglia, suggesting that tapping in the absence of auditory cues requires more neural resources. Lastly, existing studies indicate that movement rate and the type of music further modulate the EEG power in the alpha and beta frequency bands. Conclusions: These findings are discussed in the context of clinical implications and rhythm-based therapies.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1063auditory–motor entrainmentsensorimotor synchronizationneural entrainmentauditory perceptionmusicrhythm
spellingShingle Marija Pranjić
Thenille Braun Janzen
Nikolina Vukšić
Michael Thaut
From Sound to Movement: Mapping the Neural Mechanisms of Auditory–Motor Entrainment and Synchronization
Brain Sciences
auditory–motor entrainment
sensorimotor synchronization
neural entrainment
auditory perception
music
rhythm
title From Sound to Movement: Mapping the Neural Mechanisms of Auditory–Motor Entrainment and Synchronization
title_full From Sound to Movement: Mapping the Neural Mechanisms of Auditory–Motor Entrainment and Synchronization
title_fullStr From Sound to Movement: Mapping the Neural Mechanisms of Auditory–Motor Entrainment and Synchronization
title_full_unstemmed From Sound to Movement: Mapping the Neural Mechanisms of Auditory–Motor Entrainment and Synchronization
title_short From Sound to Movement: Mapping the Neural Mechanisms of Auditory–Motor Entrainment and Synchronization
title_sort from sound to movement mapping the neural mechanisms of auditory motor entrainment and synchronization
topic auditory–motor entrainment
sensorimotor synchronization
neural entrainment
auditory perception
music
rhythm
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1063
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