The Effect of Musical Groove on Sensorimotor Network Cortical Dynamics during Active Tapping and Passive Listening

Musical groove, defined as the urge to move in response to rhythmic stimuli, drives spontaneous entrainment and engagement with music. Recent studies have investigated the activation of the sensorimotor network (SMN), focusing on the µ rhythm, an oscillatory activity in the alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (16-24 Hz) ranges that reflects motor system engagement. While µ modulation differs between passive listening and active movement, it remains unclear whether these responses are shaped by the level of musical groove. Clarifying this relationship is crucial for understanding how neural oscillations transform rhythmic perception into embodied movement and how auditory and motor systems interact to generate the spontaneous urge to move. The present study investigates SMN dynamics by examining µ modulation across two factors: mode of engagement - active motor entrainment (finger tapping) versus passive listening, and groove level - low versus high. Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings were used to assess SMN activity, with a focus on µ rhythm modulation in the alpha and beta frequency bands. Channel and cluster-based EEG analyses revealed stronger µ suppression during active tapping compared to passive listening, as well as an effect of musical groove. Self-reported groove ratings were not affected by the tapping task. Together, these findings highlight the modulation of the µ rhythm in the SMN, describing distinctive patterns of neural engagement during the experience of musical groove.