# Beyond Simple Tapping: Is Timed Body Movement Influenced When Balance Is Threatened?
## 4 Discussion
Furthermore, when an auditory stimulus is provided under a threatening situation, the perceived capability for preferred motor action appears to be affected [45]. The role of tempo typically applies to tempo outside the preferred one; however, one could speculate that the inherently slow natural tempo of the more complex movements examined in the present study (ISI at 2.33 s for two-leg squatting and 1.91 s for hip abduction) may underlie the timing differences compared to the faster, simpler finger-tapping task (ISI from 400 to 700 ms) [5; 6; 8]. Not including a finger-tapping task in our study could be considered a limitation as it does not allow for a direct comparison with the movements employed, thus not allowing us to fully capture the nuances of timing accuracy in the transition from simpler to more complex tasks. However, the numerically well-established timing metrics and manifestations of the finger-tapping paradigm allow for a safe indirect comparison. Future research could focus on the inclusion of movements that vary widely in terms of movement complexity and inherent or external balance threat. Also, emerging technological advancements that have been shown to capture synchronization issues in coupled oscillators such as machine learning [46] could most likely enhance the detection of synchronization errors and improve timing accuracy in complex motor tasks under varying balance conditions. The findings have significant practical implications for sports, fitness, and rehabilitation. Rhythmic auditory cues can enhance timing and coordination in complex movements like squatting and hip abduction. Coaches can use these insights to design training programs that address timing and stability challenges, particularly in exercises with high balance demands. In rehabilitation, incorporating rhythmic cues can support motor control and stability in patients recovering from injuries or dealing with balance issues, allowing therapists to create progressively challenging exercises. Understanding how balance and movement complexity affect rhythmic cue effectiveness can lead to more effective training and rehabilitation strategies. In conclusion, this study highlights the complex interplay between movement timing, balance challenges, and movement complexity in response to a metronomic stimulus. While entrainment to rhythmic cues was achieved in both the lower and higher balance threat movements, timing accuracy and pace stability varied. In the higher balance threat movement (standing hip abduction), reduced entrainment accuracy and pace stability suggest that balance demands take precedence over timing. Conversely, the complexity of two-legged squatting introduced variability that impaired the synchronization accuracy. These findings emphasize the importance of considering both balance and movement complexity when designing training and rehabilitation programs employing timed movements. Future research should include a wider range of tasks in terms of movement complexity and balance threat as well as explore additional factors like sensory feedback to further understand timing accuracy in dynamic environments. Also, emerging technological advancements such as machine learning could most likely provide more comprehensive insights about the timing accuracy of complex motor tasks under varying balance conditions, timed to diverse acoustic stimuli beyond that of a metronome. Conceptualization, A.E. and E.R. ; methodology, A.E. and E.R. ; formal analysis, A.E. and E.R. ; investigation, A.E. and E.R. ; data curation, A.E. and E.R. ; writing--original draft preparation, A.E. and E.R. ; writing--review and editing, A.E., K.B. and E.R. ; visualization, A.E. and E.R. ; supervision, E.R. and K.B. ; project administration, K.B. and E.R. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This research received no external funding.