biostudies-literatureUnknown18(11)Wright SEAccurate perception and production of auditory rhythms are key for human behaviors such as speech and music. Auditory rhythms in music range in their complexity: complex rhythms (based on non-integer ratios between successive tone durations) are more difficult to perceive and produce than simple rhythms (based on integer ratios). The physiological activity supporting this behavioral difference is not well understood. In a within-subjects design, we addressed how rhythm complexity affects cardiac dynamics during auditory perception and production. Musically trained adults listened to and synchronized with simple and complex auditory rhythms while their cardiac activity was recorded. Participants identified missing tones in the rhythms during the Perception condition and tapped on a keyboardPloS onee0293882https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10656015biostudies-literatureAuditory rhythm complexity affects cardiac dynamics in perception and synchronization.PMC10656015Palmer CWright SEfalseAuditory rhythm complexity affects cardiac dynamics in perception and synchronization.Accurate perception and production of auditory rhythms are key for human behaviors such as speech and music. Auditory rhythms in music range in their complexity: complex rhythms (based on non-integer ratios between successive tone durations) are more difficult to perceive and produce than simple rhythms (based on integer ratios). The physiological activity supporting this behavioral difference is not well understood. In a within-subjects design, we addressed how rhythm complexity affects cardiac dynamics during auditory perception and production. Musically trained adults listened to and synchronized with simple and complex auditory rhythms while their cardiac activity was recorded. Participants identified missing tones in the rhythms during the Perception condition and tapped on a keyboard2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232025-04-22T19:11:03.229Z2025-04-06T02:40:30.489ZS-EPMC106560153797625310.1371/journal.pone.0293882