Penhune, V.
Laboratory for Motor Learning and Neural Plasticity, Department of Psychology, Concordia University
The work that I will present in this talk was motivated by the observation that auditory and motor information appear to be preferentially coupled in both music and speech. This suggested to us that there might be preferential interactions between the auditory and motor systems of the brain. Based on this hypothesis, we have conducted a series of neuroimaging experiments designed to identify the brain networks involved in integrating auditory and motor information. To do this, we have examined performance of rhythm synchronization tasks in order to identify the features of auditory stimuli that facilitate motor response. My talk will review evidence from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies conducted to elucidate the neural basis for interactions between the auditory and motor systems in the context of musical rhythm perception and production. Our results show that auditory features of rhythmic stimuli exert a strong influence on motor performance, and that motor regions of the brain are sensitive to the temporal organization of auditory stimuli. Finally, I will propose a model for auditory-motor interactions in rhythm production that engage the posterior superior temporal gyrus, and the ventral and dorsal premotor cortex, as well as ventrolateral and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These findings will be also discussed in the context of models of auditory-motor integration for the perception and production of speech rhythms.