When individuals listen to music, they often feel the urge to move their bodies such as stomping their feet and bobbing their heads in synchronization to the rhythm of the music. The pleasurable sensation of wanting to move the body along with the music is called “groove.” Groove has long been the focus of researchers’ interest with studies conducted primarily from the perspective of musicology in the 1980s and 1990s. Since the 2000s, related studies have progressed, primarily from the perspective of experimental psychology. A main aim of psychological groove research is to clarify the musical features related to groove. Microtiming, a slight timing deviation that is not expressed in musical notations, has especially been discussed in relation to groove. In this paper, we review psychological groove research that has focused on microtiming, and we provide an overview of how microtiming affects groove and body movements. Finally, we will provide perspectives for future groove research focusing on microtiming.
