High-precision online sensorimotor synchronization
A robust cross-platform solution for studying timing and coordination in large-scale online experiments.
Accurate measurement of sensorimotor synchronization—such as tapping in time with music—has traditionally required specialized laboratory equipment. This project develops a robust cross-platform solution that enables millisecond-precision timing measurements in large-scale online experiments.
By combining audio engineering techniques, signal processing, and adaptive calibration, we enable precise measurement of temporal coordination across diverse devices and operating systems. This allows researchers to study rhythm perception, timing, and interpersonal coordination at unprecedented scale and diversity.
What we do
- Develop cross-platform tools for millisecond-accurate measurement of motor responses using commodity hardware.
- Design calibration and correction algorithms that compensate for hardware, browser, and operating-system variability.
- Systematically validate timing accuracy across operating systems, browsers, and device types.
- Enable large-scale studies of rhythm perception, beat tracking, and interpersonal synchronization.
- Integrate precise timing into scalable online experimental pipelines, including PsyNet.
Why it matters
Precise timing is fundamental to perception, action, communication, and social coordination. By bringing laboratory-grade temporal precision to online experiments, this project removes one of the major technical barriers limiting large-scale research on rhythm, timing, and sensorimotor coordination. The resulting infrastructure enables cross-cultural, developmental, and population-level studies that were previously infeasible, transforming how timing-based cognition can be studied globally.
Related publications and links
- placeholder: REPP methods paper
- placeholder: open-source timing toolkit
- placeholder: PsyNet integration documentation