Event-related potentials elicited by musical rhythm pattern Tatsuya Iwaki * Department of Kansei Information, Hiroshima International University, Japan Abstract. In this study, event-related brain potential (ERP) recording with the music rhythm presentation was executed for the purpose of searching for a musical rhythm pattern that enhances motor activity. Fifteen university students participated in conditions of (1) listening to the musical rhythm, (2) finger tapping with musical rhythm, and (3) imaging the finger tapping with musical rhythm. Considering the results of previous behavioral experiment, five musical rhythm patterns were selected. These rhythm patterns differed in difficulty for finger tapping and had a different rest and accent position in music score. EEG was recorded from 25 channels, then ERPs were analyzed for a measure in each condition. Two ERP components were considered as the feature of waveform of ERP elicited by musical rhythm. The first component was positive potential with the musical note after rest. The second component-like contingent negative variation (CNV) was negative slow potential at frontal–central area with rest position in musical score. It is inferred that this component reflects the tapping facility. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Finger tapping; Musical rhythm; Down beat; Event-related potentials 1. Introduction We automatically tap out the beat with hands and feet when listening to music. It is known that auditory rhythm stimulation has relevance to motor control. It was reported that rhythmic auditory stimulation had a facilitative effect on motor rehabilitation [1]. However, few studies have directly investigated the sensorimotor effects of musical rhythm. The present study attempted to examine a relationship between the performance of finger tapping and the subjective motor facility from an electrophysiological aspect. Event- 0531-5131/ D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ics.2004.11.061 * Tel./fax: +81 823 70 4891. E-mail address: t-iwaki@he.hirokoku-u.ac.jp. International Congress Series 1278 (2005) 19 – 22 www.ics-elsevier.com