title: The neural basis of audiomotor entrainment: an ALE meta-analysis.
abstract: Synchronization of body movement to an acoustic rhythm is a major form of entrainment, such as occurs in dance. This is exemplified in experimental studies of finger tapping. Entrainment to a beat is contrasted with movement that is internally driven and is therefore self-paced. In order to examine brain areas important for entrainment to an acoustic beat, we meta-analyzed the functional neuroimaging literature on finger tapping (43 studies) using activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis with a focus on the contrast between externally-paced and self-paced tapping. The results demonstrated a dissociation between two subcortical systems involved in timing, namely the cerebellum and the basal ganglia. Externally-paced tapping highlighted the importance of the spinocerebellum, most especially the vermis, which was not activated at all by self-paced tapping. In contrast, the basal ganglia, including the putamen and globus pallidus, were active during both types of tapping, but preferentially during self-paced tapping. These results suggest a central role for the spinocerebellum in audiomotor entrainment. We conclude with a theoretical discussion about the various forms of entrainment in humans and other animals.
authors.affiliation: NeuroArts Lab, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Léa A S
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Chauvigné
authors.affiliation: NeuroArts Lab, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gitau
authors.affiliation: NeuroArts Lab, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brown
keywords: ALE; acoustic; basal ganglia; cerebellum; entrainment; finger tapping; meter; timing