The Beat Alignment Test (BAT): Surveying beat processing abilities in the general population

Abstract

The ability to perceive a musical beat (and move in synchrony with it) seems widespread, but we currently lack normative data on the distribution of this ability in musically untrained individuals. To aid in the survey of beat processing abilities in the general population, as well as to attempt to identify and differentiate impairments in beat processing, we have developed a psychophysical test called the Beat Alignment Test (BAT). The BAT is intended to complement existing tests of rhythm processing by directly examining beat perception in isolation from beat synchronization. The goals of the BAT are 1) to study the distribution of beat-based processing abilities in the normal population and 2) to provide a way to search for “rhythm deaf” individuals, who have trouble with beat processing in music though they are not tone deaf. The BAT is easily implemented and it is our hope that it is widely adopted. Data from a pilot study of 30 individuals is presented. I.