Ce. Peper et al., MULTIFREQUENCY COORDINATION IN BIMANUAL TAPPING - ASYMMETRICAL COUPLING AND SIGNS OF SUPERCRITICALITY, Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance, 21(5), 1995, pp. 1117-1138
The circle map provides a general mathematical model for the mode-lock
ing behavior observed in systems of coupled oscillators. From this the
oretical perspective, multifrequency tapping was studied. Three experi
ments were conducted in which skilled drummers participated. The resul
ts were in qualitative agreement with the dynamical features of the ci
rcle map. The stability of behavior was affected by the movement frequ
ency at which the multifrequency relations were performed. Attraction
to lower order ratios (predominantly showing Farey relations) was obse
rved. In some situations bistability and hysteresis occurred, implying
that the system was situated in the supercritical domain of the circl
e map where resonance zones overlap. Furthermore, the results suggest
that multifrequency tapping is characterized by an asymmetrical coupli
ng in that the influence of the fast hand on the slow hand is the stro
ngest.