Slow 50 bpm bimanual tapping in the solo condition is selectively associated with inhibitory control, working memory, and overall EF, though associations do not survive FDR correction¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (3 entries) · causal r2 · q3 · i1 small
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i1 50 bpm solo synchronization correlated positively with congruent inhibitory control (r = .19), backward span working memory (r = .21), and the EF composite (r = .18), but these did not survive Benjamini-Hochberg FDR correction. → Yunhee Kim 2026 q3 i? In hierarchical regression controlling for age and sex, 50 bpm solo tapping predicted inhibition (β = .28, p = .007), exceeding the effect of age in months. → Yunhee Kim 2026 (2) q3 i? Model-change statistics showed the addition of SMS variables did not significantly increase explained variance in any EF model. → Yunhee Kim 2026 (3)

Evidence¶

Yunhee Kim 2026¶

Yunhee Kim, Doyeon Chae, Jaehwan Jang, Kyeong Taek Oh, Byeong-Sun Park & Min-gu Kim. (2026). Does tapping in sync reflect cognitive control? Links between sensorimotor synchronization, social context, and executive function in early childhood. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-026-00443-5

q3 · i1 · causal · r2

Pearson correlation analyses of EF components (Flag Raising, digit span, DCCS) against z-standardized, inverted DTW scores; significant zero-order correlations appeared exclusively in the 50 bpm solo condition (r = .19, r = .21, r = .18) but "did not survive Benjamini-Hochberg FDR correction".

"Specifically, 50 bpm solo synchronization was positively correlated with congruent inhibitory control (r = .19, p = .026), backward span working memory (r = .21, p = .014), and the overall EF composite score, r = .18, p = .037."

Yunhee Kim 2026 (2)¶

Yunhee Kim, Doyeon Chae, Jaehwan Jang, Kyeong Taek Oh, Byeong-Sun Park & Min-gu Kim. (2026). Does tapping in sync reflect cognitive control? Links between sensorimotor synchronization, social context, and executive function in early childhood. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-026-00443-5

q3 · i? · associational · r2

Hierarchical multiple regression (analytical sample N = 131 after listwise deletion) predicting inhibition with age and sex in Step 1 and six SMS scores in Step 2; the inhibition model's ƒ2 = .17. No 150 bpm or music task predicted inhibition.

"In the final model, 50 bpm bimanual tapping under the solo condition was positively associated with inhibition (β = .28, p = .007), exceeding the effect of age in months, β = .21, p = .017."

Yunhee Kim 2026 (3)¶

Yunhee Kim, Doyeon Chae, Jaehwan Jang, Kyeong Taek Oh, Byeong-Sun Park & Min-gu Kim. (2026). Does tapping in sync reflect cognitive control? Links between sensorimotor synchronization, social context, and executive function in early childhood. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-026-00443-5

q3 · i? · causal · r2

Step-2 model-change test in the inhibition model; parallel non-significant changes occurred for working memory (ΔR2 = .06, p = .243) and the EF composite (ΔR2 = .05, p = .285), so individual coefficients warrant caution.

"However, the increase in explained variance from Step 1 to Step 2 did not reach statistical significance, ΔR2 = .08, ΔF(6, 122) = 1.87, p = .091, thus individual coefficients should be interpreted cautiously."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Cognitive flexibility shows no significant association with sensorimotor synchronization in any task condition — related
• Exploratory ROI volume–behavior correlations within SES groups did not survive FDR correction — related
• Sport-specific disciplines relate to distinct executive functions: tennis and football with inhibitory control and working memory, with a larger tennis association in males — related
• Hand asymmetries in synchronization vary by task: left-hand variability is greater in sequential unimanual tasks but slightly reversed in the 50 bpm bimanual task — related
• A co-tapping partner reduces synchronization variability significantly more at 150 bpm metronome (near children's SMT) than in music or slow bimanual tasks — related
• Rhythmic context dominates synchronization variability: music tapping is far less synchronized than metronome tapping, while the 50 bpm bimanual task does not differ from 150 bpm — related
• Across all three task types, joint tapping yields modestly but reliably lower synchronization variability than solo tapping in 4–5-year-olds — related