Another Timing Variable Composed of State Variables: Phase Perception and Phase Driven Oscillators

In this chapter, we consider a perceptible variable that is related to τ, but is different from τ. The variable is phase, φ. φ is similar to τ in that both are timing variables and both are ratios of spatial variables that could be state variables of a dynamical system. As such, either could be used to drive a damped mass-spring system to yield an autonomous dynamical organization. Finally, both τ and φ are perceptible variables. We describe experiments in which we have investigated the perception of relative phase. Then, we describe a phase driven and phase coupled dynamical model of bimanual coordination. An important feature of this model is that it can account for both movement study and judgment study results. However, the way the perceptible property is used in each case is task-specific. Phase perception and dynamics of bimanual coordination 2