The Effects of Sonification on Motor Control in Juggling: The Role of Proficiency

Abstract

Real-time sonification—the transformation of movement into sound—is widely reported to facilitate motor control. However, its impact on complex upper-limb coordination remains underexplored, particularly regarding how individual proficiency influences feedback reception. We analyzed juggling variability across temporal, spatial, velocity, and coordination dimensions using wearable sensors that mapped vertical hand movements to changes in auditory pitch. Although no within-subject effectswere observed, analysis revealed a distinct proficiency-dependent response. Sonification enhanced stability for lower-proficiency jugglers but acted as a rhythmic perturbation for higher-proficiency jugglers, consistent with the expertise reversal effect. Furthermore, spatial stability remained unaffected regardless of proficiency, likely due to the visual primacy regulating spatial trajectories in juggling. These findings demonstrate that the efficacy of sonification is both proficiency-dependent and dimension-specific. Strategic application of augmented feedback must therefore consider individual internal models and task-specific sensory constraints.