Abstract
Why do some rhythms fill us with this pleasurable urge to move along to them? This experiment investigated the divergent roles of pickups and syncopations on both pupil dilations and this groovy feeling. We found that syncopations resulted in greater pleasure and urge to move, but had no bearing on pupil size. Pickups, however, had the opposite effect: pupil size was larger but not associated with subjecting ratings of pleasure or compulsion to move. Taken together, these results may suggest that pickups cue attention to the meter, increasing its salience while syncopations weaken it which compels us to strengthen it with our own body movements.