Finding Downbeats with a Relaxation Oscillator

A relaxation oscillator model of neural spiking dynamics is applied to the task of finding downbeats in rhythmical patterns. The importance of downbeat discovery or {\em beat induction} is discussed, and the relaxation oscillator model is compared to other oscillator models. In a set of computer simulations the model is tested on 35 rhythmical patterns from Povel \& Essens (1985). The model performs well, making good predictions in 34 of 35 cases. In an analysis we identify some shortcomings of the model and relate model behavior to dynamical properties of relaxation oscillators.