Abstract
Flexibly adapting to our dynamic surroundings requires anticipating upcoming events and focusing our attention accordingly. Rhythmic patterns of sensory input offer valuable cues for these temporal expectations and facilitate perceptual processing. However, a gap in understanding persists regarding how rhythms outside of periodic structures influence perception. Our study aimed to delineate the distinct roles of predictability and periodicity in rhythm-based expectations. Participants completed a pitch-identification task preceded by different rhythm types: periodic predictable, aperiodic predictable, and aperiodic unpredictable. By manipulating the timing of the target sound, we observed how auditory the target position in the different rhythm conditions modulated sensitivity. The results revealed a clear behavioral benefit of predictable rhythms, regardless of their periodicity. Interestingly, we also observed an additional effect of periodicity, likely related to more precise temporal expectations and/or involvement of neural entrainment. Our findings suggest that predictability and periodicity influence perception via distinct mechanisms.
Bio
Sandra Solli is a PhD Fellow in Cognitive Neuroscience at RITMO. She has a background in Engineering Acoustics (MSc from DTU), Musicology/Music Technology (BA from NTNU), and Cognitive Psychology (BA from UiO). Her main interests are the neural mechanisms underlying auditory temporal expectations and rhythm perception.