Cognitive, neural, and social mechanisms of rhythmic interpersonal coordination

Abstract

Humans possess the exceptional capacity to temporally coordinate their movements with one another with a high degree of accuracy, precision, and flexibility. Musical ensemble performance is a refined example of this, where a range of cognitive and sensory-motor processes work together to support rhythmic interpersonal coordination. However, the influence of social factors on the underlying cognitive-motor and neural mechanisms that facilitate rhythmic interpersonal coordination is yet to be established. This thesis draws on theoretical perspectives related to joint action, including co-representation, self-other integration and segregation, and theoretical models of sensorimotor synchronisation to consider this topic. Three experiments were conducted to investigate how social factors influence rhythmic interpersonal coordination. This broad empirical question was broken down by considering both extrinsic factors-such as the social context and perceived characteristics of an interaction partner (e.g. the degree of partner intentionality and responsiveness)-as well as intrinsic social factors, such as individual differences in attitudes and social preferences. This thesis concludes that extrinsic and intrinsic social factors affect rhythmic interpersonal coordination at multiple levels. A key aspect of this influence relates to how people regulate the integration and segregation of their representations of self and others. However, importantly, these effects are mediated by individual differences in intrinsic social factors such as personal preferences and biases. Top-down processes related to beliefs thus influence bottom-up sensorimotor processes during joint action, but the nature of this influence appears to be different for different people. This outcome highlights the necessity of taking individual differences into account, particularly when investigating the nuances of social processing during dynamic social interactions. Furthermore, the current findings suggest that beliefs about a partner during social interaction may be just as, or even more so, influential on performance than the actual characteristics of the partner. Recognising the potency of social beliefs has implications not only for research into basic psychological mechanisms underpinning rhythmic interpersonal coordination, but also for understanding the broader social dynamics of real-life situations involving cooperative joint action understanding the broader social dynamics of real-life situations involving cooperative joint action.

Date of Award	2020
Original language	English