Converging evidence suggests a beneficial effect of rhythmic music-therapy in easing motor dysfunctions. Nevertheless, the neural systems underpinning both the direct effect and the influence of rhythm on movement control and execution during training in ecological settings are still largely unknown. In this study, we propose an ecological approach to monitor brain activity and behavioural performance during rhythmic auditory cueing short-term training. Our approach envisages the combination of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that allows unconstrained movements of participants, with electronic drum (e-drum), which is an instrument able to collect behavioural tapping data in real time. The behavioural and brain effects of this short-term training were investigated on a group of healthy participants, who well tolerated the experimental settings, since none of them withdrew from the study. The rhythmic auditory cueing short-term training improved beat regularity and decreased group variability. At the group level, the training resulted in a reduction of brain activity primarily in premotor areas. Furthermore, participants with the highest behavioural improvement during training showed the smallest reduction in brain activity. Overall, we conclude that our study could pave the way towards translating the proposed approach to clinical settings.

越来越多的证据表明，节奏音乐疗法在缓解运动功能障碍方面具有有益作用。然而，在生态环境中训练期间，对节奏的直接影响和影响对运动控制和执行产生影响的神经系统仍是未知之数。在这项研究中，我们提出了一种生态方法来监测有节奏的听觉提示短期训练期间的大脑活动和行为表现。我们的方法设想将功能近红外光谱（fNIRS）与电子鼓（e-drum）结合使用，该功能是一种无创神经影像技术，可让参与者不受限制地运动，该电子鼓是一种能够收集行为敲击数据的工具。即时的。对一组健康的参与者进行了这项短期培训的行为和大脑影响，他们对实验设置具有很好的耐受性，因为他们都没有退出研究。有节奏的听觉提示短期训练可改善心跳规律性并降低组间变异性。在小组一级，训练导致大脑活动减少，主要是运动前区域。此外，在训练过程中行为改善最高的参与者表现出的大脑活动减少最小。总体而言，我们得出的结论是，我们的研究可以为将建议的方法转化为临床环境铺平道路。有节奏的听觉提示短期训练可改善心跳规律性并降低组间变异性。在小组一级，训练导致大脑活动减少，主要是运动前区域。此外，在训练过程中行为改善最高的参与者表现出的大脑活动减少最小。总体而言，我们得出的结论是，我们的研究可以为将建议的方法转化为临床环境铺平道路。有节奏的听觉提示短期训练可改善心跳规律性并降低组间变异性。在小组一级，训练导致大脑活动减少，主要是运动前区域。此外，在训练过程中行为改善最高的参与者表现出的大脑活动减少最小。总体而言，我们得出的结论是，我们的研究可以为将建议的方法转化为临床环境铺平道路。