Multisensory integration of drumming actions: musical expertise affects perceived audiovisual asynchrony

Petrini, K., Dahl, S., Rocchesso, D., Waadeland, C.H., Avanzini, F., Puce, A. and Pollick, F.E. (2009) Multisensory integration of drumming actions: musical expertise affects perceived audiovisual asynchrony. Experimental Brain Research, 198(2-3), pp. 339-352. (doi: 10.1007/s00221-009-1817-2)

Abstract

We investigated the effect of musical expertise on sensitivity to asynchrony for drumming point-light displays, which varied in their physical characteristics (Experiment 1) or in their degree of audiovisual congruency (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, 21 repetitions of three tempos x three accents x nine audiovisual delays were presented to four jazz drummers and four novices. In Experiment 2, ten repetitions of two audiovisual incongruency conditions x nine audiovisual delays were presented to 13 drummers and 13 novices. Participants gave forced-choice judgments of audiovisual synchrony. The results of Experiment 1 show an enhancement in experts' ability to detect asynchrony, especially for slower drumming tempos. In Experiment 2 an increase in sensitivity to asynchrony was found for incongruent stimuli; this increase, however, is attributable only to the novice group. Altogether the results indicated that through musical practice we learn to ignore variations in stimulus characteristics that otherwise would affect our multisensory integration processes.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Pollick, Professor Frank and Petrini, Dr Karin
• Authors: Petrini, K., Dahl, S., Rocchesso, D., Waadeland, C.H., Avanzini, F., Puce, A., and Pollick, F.E.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
• Journal Name: Experimental Brain Research
• ISSN: 0014-4819