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Data from: Rethinking predictive suppression: expert pianists do not show greater tactile suppression than musical novices

Tom, Julia1; Manzone, Joseph X.1; Chen, Joyce L.1

Published Jun 02, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.c59zw3rqz

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Abstract

Expert performance is often attributed to automatized movement, where reliance upon predictive motor programs is increased, and upon sensory feedback decreased. However, few studies have examined how expert performance interacts with tactile feedback. A contradiction exists in current literature. On one hand, more predictable, external tactile feedback associated with movement (e.g., through previous experience) is perceived less (i.e., tactile suppression). Experts, whose experience presumably leads to stronger predictions, should therefore show greater tactile suppression than novices during their trained performance. On the other hand, reductions in tactile inputs impair fine motor performance: opposite to what expertise should yield. To better understand this paradox around expert performance and tactile perception, we examined tactile suppression and fine motor performance in expert pianists and musical novices during piano key presses. We measured thresholds for perceiving tactile, electrical stimuli of variable intensities at rest and right before a piano key press (i.e., during movement planning). Tactile suppression was determined as an increased threshold at movement planning compared to rest. Experts did not show greater tactile suppression compared to novices. Fine motor performance was measured as participants’ accuracy at matching a key press velocity target. Experts showed greater accuracy in matching a slow velocity target than novices. There was a trend towards less tactile suppression relating to better fine motor performance across both groups. Together, these findings suggest that 1) less tactile suppression may be beneficial to fine motor performance, and 2) performance-benefitting inputs may not be subjected to predictive suppression.