When asked to move an arm rhythmically back and forth while watching an up and down motion, increased movement variation is observed. This effect is known as the rhythmic movement interference (RMI) effect. Although previous research attributes this phenomenon to the activity of mirror neurons in area F5 of the premotor cortex, more recent research has provided evidence that the RMI effect is better explained though the framework of dynamical systems. Rather than interpret this additional movement variability as simple movement error, this approach has illustrated a structured, rhythmic component to the RMI effect. Few experiments, however, have attempted to illustrate the effect in instances of spontaneous entrainment, and non to date have examined the RMI effect in children.

Here, groups of 5-, 7-, and 9-year-olds are asked to move an inferred pen at a steady, self-generated pace while watching an osculating dot on a computer screen. Findings show an interesting pattern of interactions pertaining to children’s entrainment and variability in motion, shedding light on the emergence of the RMI effect. Click here to participate!