Using a sensorimotor synchronization task through space and time, we have recently shown that timing modes are used differently in function of the time constraints set upon motor planning [1Dione M., Ott L., Delevoye-Turrell Y. Planning ahead through space and time: from neuropsychology to motor control Proceedings of the 35 th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society (2013).  2207-2212

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références]. Predictive timing is used for slow execution whereas emergent timing seems to dominate for sequences performed at fast tempi. In the present study, we applied the circle-tapping task paradigm in patients with schizophrenia to test, which timing mode may cause the motor fluency deficits previously reported in schizophrenia [2Delevoye-Turrell Y., Giersch A., Wing A.M., Danion J. Motor fluency deficits in the sequencing of actions in schizophrenia J Abnorm Psychol 2007 ;  116 (1) : 56-64 [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références].

Eighteen patients and their controls were instructed to tap a sequence of 6 visual targets following the rhythm of a regular metronome. This synchronization task was performed at 10 distinct tempi (inter response interval–IRI of 1100ms to 300ms, for the slowest to the fastest rhythms). Results showed that the mean IRIerror was similar in patients and in controls indicating that all participants performed the task correctly and were able to adapt their rhythmic tapping to the imposed tempo. Patients presented nevertheless longer contact times suggesting a less fluent execution of actions than the controls. Finally, patients tapped systematically after the beep, results that were associated to the patients’ difficulty to correct for minimal timing errors during predictive motor planning.

Overall, these findings confirm the distortion of predictive timing in schizophrenia [3Turgeon M., Giersch A., Delevoye- Turrell Y., Wing A.M. Impaired predictive timing with spared time interval production in individuals with schizophrenia Psy-chiatry Res 2012 ;  197 : 13-18 [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références]. Preliminary data using rhythmic music during adapted physical activity will be presented to show how rhythm in the environment may be used to improve predictive timing for motor planning in pathological populations.