The meter of syncopated auditory polyrhythms

Subjects tapped the perceived meter or beat of polyrhythms that consisted of two conflicting pulse trains (e.g., three elements/repetition vs. five elements/repetition). The meter interpretation was based on the global rhythmic properties of a polyrhythm as well as on the temporal properties of each pulse train. The rhythmic properties of a polyrhythm restricted the range of meter interpretations. Some polyrhythms were overdetermined and allowed but one meter, while others were more ambiguous and allowed several meters. For all polyrhythms, however, the temporal interval between elements of a pulse train determined whether that pulse train would serve as the background beat. These results demonstrate the value of a hierarchic analysis of rhythm