The aim of this study was to test different methods for distinguishing between two known timing processes involved in human rhythmic behaviours. We examined the implementation of two approaches used in the literature: the high-frequency slope of the power spectrum and the lag one value of the autocorrelation function, ACF(1). We developed another method based on the Wing and Kristofferson (1973a) model and the predicted negative ACF(1) for event-based series: the detrended windowed (lag one) autocorrelation (DWA). We compared the reliability and performance of these three methods on simulation and experimental series. DWA gave the best results, and guidelines are given for its appropriate use for identifying underlying timing processes.
CannonM. J.PercivalD. B.CacciaD. C.RaymondG. M.BassingthwaighteJ. B.(1997). Evaluated scaled windowed variance methods for estimating the Hurst coefficient of time series.Physica A241, 606–626.
2.
CollierG. L.OgdenR. T.(2004). Adding drift to the decomposition of simple isochronous tapping: An extension of the Wing–Kristofferson model.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance30, 853–872.
3.
DaviesR. B.HarteD. S.(1987). Tests for Hurst effect.Biometrika74, 95–101.
4.
DelignièresD.LemoineL.TorreK.(2004). Time intervals production in tapping and oscillatory motion.Human Movement Science23, 87–103.
5.
DelignièresD.RamdaniS.LemoineL.TorreK.FortesM.NinotG.(2006). Fractal analyses for “short” time series: A re-assessment of classical methods.Journal of Mathematical Psychology50, 525–544.
6.
DelignièresD.TorreK.LemoineL.(2005). Methodological issues in the application of monofractal analyses in psychological and behavioral research.Nonlinear Dynamics in Psychology and Life Science9, 435–461.
7.
DelignièresD.TorreK.LemoineL.(2008). Fractal models for event-based and dynamical timers.Acta Psychologica127, 382–397.
8.
DericheM.TewfikA. H.(1993). Maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of discrete fractionally differenced Gaussian noise process.IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing41, 2977–2989.
9.
EkeA.HermanP.BassingthwaighteJ. B.RaymondG. M.PercivalD. B.CannonM.(2000). Physiological time series: Distinguishing fractal noises from motions.Pflugers Archiv439, 403–415.
10.
FougèreP. F.(1985). On the accuracy of spectrum analysis of red noise processes using maximum entropy and periodogram methods: Simulation studies and application to geographical data.Journal of Geographical Research90, 4355–4366.
11.
GildenD. L.ThorntonT.MallonM. W.(1995). 1/fnoise in human cognition.Science267, 1837–1839.
12.
IvryR. B.CorcosD. M.(1993). Slicing the variability pie: Component analysis of coordination and motor dysfunction.NewellK. M.CorcosD. M.Variability and motor controlUrbana, IL: Human Kinetics415–447.
13.
IvryR. B.HazeltineR. E.(1995). Perception and production of temporal intervals across a range of durations: Evidence for a common timing mechanism.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance21, 3–18.
14.
KeeleS. W.IvryR. I.PokornyR.(1987). Force control and its relation to timing.Journal of Motor Behavior19, 96–114.
15.
KeeleS. W.PokornyR. A.CorcosD. M.IvryR.(1985). Do perception and motor production share common timing mechanisms: A correctional analysis.Acta Psychologica (Amst)60, 173–191.
16.
LemoineL.TorreK.DelignièresD.(2006). Testing for the presence of 1/fnoise in continuation tapping data.Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology60, 247–257.
17.
MadisonG.(2004). Fractal modeling of human isochronous serial interval production.Biological Cybernetics90, 105–112.
18.
McAuleyJ. D.JonesM. R.HolubS.JohnstonH. M.MillerN. S.(2006). The time of our lives: Life span development of timing and event tracking.Journal of Experimental Psychology: General135, 348–367.
19.
OgdenR. T.CollierG. L.(1999). On detecting and modeling deterministic drift in long run sequences of tapping data.Communications in Statistics—Theory and Methods28, 977–987.
20.
PressingJ.Jolley-RogersG.(1997). Spectral properties of human cognition and skill.Biological Cybernetics76, 339–347.
21.
RangarajanG.DingM.(2000). Integrated approach to the assessment of long range correlation in time series data.Physical Review E61, 4991–5001.
22.
RobertsonS. D.ZelaznikH. N.LanteroD. A.BojczykK. G.SpencerR. M.DoffinJ. G.(1999). Correlations for timing consistency among tapping and drawing tasks: Evidence against a single timing process for motor control.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance25, 1316–1330.
23.
SchönerG.(2002). Timing, clocks, and dynamical systems.Brain and Cognition48, 31–51.
24.
VorbergD.WingA.(1996). Modeling variability and dependence in timing.HeuerH.KeeleS. W.Handbook of perception and actionLondon: Academic Press2, 181–262.
25.
WingA. M.KristoffersonA. B.(1973a). Response delays and the timing of discrete motor responses.Perception and Psychophysics14, 5–12.
26.
WingA. M.KristoffersonA. B.(1973b). The timing of interresponse intervals.Perception and Psychophysics13, 455–460.
27.
ZelaznikH. N.SpencerR. M.IvryR. B.(2002). Dissociation of explicit and implicit timing in repetitive tapping and drawing movements.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance28, 575–588.
