  We investigate the spin dynamics of a millisecond pulsar (MSP) in a tightly
bounded orbit around a massive black hole. These binaries are progenitors of
the extreme-mass-ratio-inspirals (EMRIs) and intermediate-mass-ratio-inspirals
(IMRIs) gravitational wave events. The Mathisson-Papapetrou-Dixon (MPD)
formulation is used to determine the orbital motion and spin modulation and
evolution. We show that the MSP will not be confined in a planar Keplerian
orbit and its spin will exhibit precession and nutation induced by spin-orbit
coupling and spin-curvature interaction. These spin and orbital behaviours will
manifest observationally in the temporal variations in the MSP's pulsed
emission and, with certain geometries, in the self-occultation of the pulsar's
emitting poles. Radio pulsar timing observations will be able to detect such
signatures. These extreme-mass-ratio binaries (EMRBs) and
intermediate-mass-ratio binaries (IMRBs) are also strong gravitational wave
sources. Combining radio pulsar timing and gravitational wave observations will
allow us to determine the dynamics of these systems in high precision and hence
the subtle behaviours of spinning masses in strong gravity.
