Decoding the rich temporal dynamics of complex sounds such as speech is constrained by the underlying neuronal-processing mechanisms. Oscillatory theories suggest the existence of one optimal perceptual performance regime at auditory stimulation rates in the delta to theta range (< 10 Hz), but reduced performance in the alpha range (10–14 Hz) is controversial. Additionally, the widely discussed motor system contribution to timing remains unclear. We measured rate discrimination thresholds between 4 and 15 Hz, and auditory-motor coupling strength was estimated through a behavioral auditory-motor synchronization task. In a Bayesian model comparison, high auditory-motor synchronizers showed a larger range of constant optimal temporal judgments than low synchronizers, with performance decreasing in the alpha range. This evidence for optimal processing in the theta range is consistent with preferred oscillatory regimes in auditory cortex that compartmentalize stimulus encoding and processing. The findings suggest, remarkably, that increased auditory-motor synchronization might extend such an optimal range towards faster rates.

解码复杂声音（例如语音）的丰富时间动态受到潜在神经元处理机制的限制。振荡理论表明，在 delta 到 theta 范围（< 10 Hz）的听觉刺激率下存在一种最佳的感知性能机制，但在 alpha 范围（10-14 Hz）的性能降低是有争议的。此外，广泛讨论的电机系统对计时的贡献仍不清楚。我们测量了 4 到 15 Hz 之间的速率辨别阈值，并通过行为听觉-运动同步任务估计了听觉-运动耦合强度。在贝叶斯模型比较中，高听觉运动同步器比低同步器表现出更大范围的恒定最佳时间判断，性能在 alpha 范围内下降。在 theta 范围内进行最佳处理的证据与听觉皮层中将刺激编码和处理区分开来的首选振荡机制一致。研究结果显着表明，增加的听觉-运动同步可能会将这种最佳范围扩展到更快的速度。