Tuning the Internal Timekeeper in Continuation Tapping Tasks

Attached is the conference program; here is the presentation abstract:"A continuation timing task begins with an initial synchronization phase where participants tap in time with a metronome beat; during the subsequent continuation phase, the metronome is extinguished and participants attempt to continue tapping at the synchronization-specified rate. Performance during the continuation phase is thought to reflect operation of the internal timing mechanism. Here, we varied the number of synchronization taps—6, 11, 21, 41, and 81—and examined changes in continuation-phase performance. In addition, we assessed that relationat each of four synchronization inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs): 500,1000, 1500, and 2000 ms. Preliminary analyses of continuation performance showed that participants accurately scaled their meaninter-tap intervals (ITIs) to target ISI levels, regardless of the synchronization-tap-number level. At shorter ISIs (500 & 1000 ms), increases in synchronization-tap-number did not influence ITI variability. However, at longer ISIs (1500 & 2000 ms), increases in synchronization-tap-number resulted in reductions in ITI variability."