On the relation between rhythm complexity measures and human rhythmic performance

ABSTRACT

Six measures of musical rhythm complexity were compared experimentally to human difficulty of performance (performance complexity) using two data sets of rhythms, via phylogenetic trees of the rank-correlation coefficient matrices obtained from rankings of the rhythms according to the complexity measures. The results suggest the hypothesis that measures of rhythmic syncopation that are based on a weighted metrical hierarchy, are better predictors of human performance difficulty than measures based on cognitive complexity, weighted distances from onsets to beats, or mathematical irregularity.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
      I.2.0 General
          Subjects: Cognitive simulation

Additional Classification:
  J. Computer Applications
  J.5 ARTS AND HUMANITIES

General Terms:
Experimentation, Measurement, Performance, Verification