Musical enjoyment does not enhance walking speed in healthy adults during music-based auditory cueing

Can rhythm-mediated reward boost learning, memory, and social connection? Perspectives for future research

Studies of rhythm processing and of reward have progressed separately, with little connection between the two. However, consistent links between rhythm and reward are beginning to surface, with research suggesting that synchronization to rhythm is rewarding, and that this rewarding element may in turn also boost this synchronization. The current mini review shows that the combined study of rhythm and reward can be beneficial to better understand their independent and combined roles across two central aspects of cognition: 1) learning and memory, and 2) social connection and interpersonal synchronization; which have so far been studied largely independently. From this basis, it is discussed how connections between rhythm and reward can be applied to learning and memory and social connection across different populations, taking into account individual differences, clinical populations, human development, and animal research. Future research will need to consider the rewarding nature of rhythm, and that rhythm can in turn boost reward, potentially enhancing other cognitive and social processes.

Gait in younger and older adults during rhythmic auditory stimulation is influenced by groove, familiarity, beat perception, and synchronization demands

Music-based Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) is a cueing intervention used to regulate gait impairments in conditions such as Parkinson's disease or stroke. Desire to move with music ('groove') and familiarity have been shown to impact younger adult gait while walking with music, and these effects appear to be influenced by individual rhythmic ability. Importantly, these factors have not been examined in older adults. The aim of this study was to determine how gait outcomes during RAS are influenced by musical properties (familiarity, 'groove') in both free and synchronized walking for younger and older adults with good and poor beat perception ability. To do this, participants were randomized to either free or synchronized walking groups. Each participant's gait was assessed on a pressure sensitive walkway during high versus low groove and high versus low familiarity music, as well as metronome, cueing trials. Individual beat perception ability was evaluated using the Beat Alignment Test. Results showed that the effects of synchronization and groove were mostly consistent across age groups. High groove music elicited faster gait in both age groups, with longer strides only among young adults, than low groove music; synchronizing maximized these effects. Older adults with poor beat perception were more negatively affected by unfamiliar stimuli while walking than younger adults. This suggests that older adults, like younger adults, may benefit from synchronized RAS to high groove cues but may be more vulnerable to cognitive demands associated with walking to unfamiliar stimuli. This should be accounted for in clinical implementations of RAS.