Cooperative rhythm production between three people through auditory signals

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of cooperative rhythm production between three people and the effect of cross-feedback between people on the cooperation. We conducted an experiment in which two mutually isolated followers simultaneously performed a synchronized-finger-tapping task with a human leader or metronome producing constant tempo. The followers performed this task with or without tapping timing information of the other follower. The leaders were asked to tap their finger to keep constant tempo with or without the tapping time information of followers. The cross-feedback between followers enlarged synchronization error. The cross-feedback between a leader and followers shortened their inter-tap intervals (ITIs) and decreased the standard deviations of ITIs. These results suggest that the cross-feedback between people in synchronized tapping did not contribute the accuracy of timing of tapping but the variability of tapping timing.