Event-related potentials elicited by musical rhythm pattern

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.