Active Inference in Music Perception: Motor Engagement to Syncopation Modulates Rhythmic Prediction Error.

ABSTRACT: In active inference, the sensory surprisal (a log-probability of sensory data) of the prediction error between prediction and sensory input is modulated by action. The urge to move (groove) induced by syncopation, which provides metric uncertainty, can be considered a case of active inference in music perception. The present study investigated whether rhythmic prediction error is modulated by improving the precision of rhythm perception through tapping in sync with the rhythm. Thirty-five participants listened to a rhythmic sequence while tapping the half-note beat (tapping condition) or holding a pillow (no-tapping condition), and electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded. In both conditions, the onset of the syncopated tone was rarely earlier (timing deviant: 20%) than the standard (80%)

SUBMITTER: Ishida K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12287993 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature