Groove and time perception are influenced by rhythmic complexity and tempo

Research has explored how musical timing, tempo, and complexity influence experiences of groove in listeners. Musical complexity and tempo have also been associated with distortions in time perception, likely due to their demand on attentional resources within working memory. Individual factors such as arousal or age typically shape time perception in addition. The present study aimed at investigating how both groove and time perception are modulated by varying levels of complexity and tempo. Using short percussion patterns rooted in the funk tradition and performed by a professional drummer, a pilot study tested three levels of complexity – operationalized as degrees of syncopation – at two tempi (110 and 130 BPM). In the main study, a total of 192 participants rated the stimuli with the Experience of Groove Questionnaire (EGQ), and judged both the duration and subjective passage of time (PoT) during listening. Results indicate that low and medium complexity versions were experienced higher in the groove dimensions of Urge to Move and Pleasure, compared with the highly complex music. Medium complexity caused time to pass more quickly compared with the low or high complexity versions. Higher tempo resulted in time passing more quickly, as well as in higher groove ratings in terms of Urge to Move. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that PoT and participants’ arousal predicted Urge to Move, and PoT also predicted the Pleasure dimension of groove. No significant effects were observed for age, musical training, or duration estimation. Taken together, this study demonstrates that only high levels of rhythmic complexity diminish groove experiences, contrasting with previous research proposing an inverted U-shaped relationship. Given that the perception of time often accelerates during pleasurable experiences, the current results provide additional support for the link between groove and affective enjoyment.