Do animals move with the rhythm of music? For a long time, people believed that precise, tempo-aligned movement to a song was a uniquely human skill. A recent study from Japan challenges that view. Rats, it turns out, can sync their movements to a musical beat as humans do. The key lies in the brain’s time constants—the speed at which neural activity responds to stimuli—which appear to be remarkably similar across species.
The finding is surprising. It suggests that the ability of auditory and motor systems to interact with music and stay in time may be more common across species than previously thought. This discovery not only deepens our understanding of animal cognition but also sheds light on the origins of human music and dance.
Rhythmic perception and synchronization typically center on a tempo range of about 120 to 140 beats per minute. In the study, researchers from the University of Tokyo observed physical movements and neural activity in both humans and rats to explore sensitivity to heartbeat-like tempo. Close examination of head motion and neural signals showed that rats exhibit strong beat synchrony, with activity in the auditory cortex aligning to roughly 120–140 BPM. They adjust their movement to the music just as people do.
Complex neural and motor processes
The researchers concluded that the optimal tempo for beat synchronization is determined by the brain’s neuronal dynamics rather than the specific motor drift of any species. This time constant appears to be conserved across species, pointing to a physical basis for rhythm processing. The team called for further work to understand how these neural dynamics enable rhythm perception and movement across different animals and contexts.
The study’s results were illustrated with recordings and observations of a lab mouse alongside human participants, highlighting shared neural mechanisms behind beat perception. The researchers noted that synchronization peaks within the 120 to 140 BPM window, aligning with common human musical tempos. This convergence supports the idea that rhythm engagement arises from brain-wide timing properties rather than purely body-scale factors.
The study also confirmed that many animals respond to auditory cues and can be trained to produce rhythmic sounds or respond to music. Yet the full spectrum of neural and motor coordination required for natural rhythm recognition, response, and even anticipation remains intricate. This phenomenon is often described as beat synchronization.
Humans can anticipate upcoming beats, and initial evidence suggests rats may share this predictive processing capability. Although more studies are needed to confirm the extent of this ability in rats, the current results show clear synchronization with music and a potential for predictive timing in these animals.
The core experiments centered on Mozart’s Two Piano Sonata in D Major (K. 448), along with four other pieces: Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust, Beat It by Michael Jackson, and Sugar by Maroon 5. The music set provided diverse rhythmic structures to probe rhythm processing across species.
The researchers, led by Hirokazu Takahashi, Associate Professor at the Information Institute of Science and Technology, described the findings as showing innate beat synchronization in rats without prior exposure to music. The most consistent coupling between neural activity and the beat was observed within the 120–140 BPM range, a range also typical for human beat perception and synchronization.
Profound effects on emotion
Music exerts a powerful influence on the brain, shaping emotion and cognition. Takahashi, an electrophysiology expert who has studied auditory cortex responses in animals for years, remarked on the deep emotional and cognitive impact of musical rhythm. The study proposed two competing hypotheses: either body-based timing constants or brain-based timing constants govern optimal musical tempo for synchronization. The findings favored the brain-based explanation and suggested conserved timing dynamics across species.
After tests with 20 human participants and 10 mice, results indicated that the brain’s time constant governs synchronization tempo. Rats and humans showed similar nodding and movement patterns to the beat, with timing differences diminishing as tempo increased. The team plans to explore how other musical features, such as melody and harmony, relate to brain dynamics, hoping to map how cultural domains like art, science, and technology emerge from neural processes.
The researchers also expressed interest in applying these insights to artificial intelligence and how music might contribute to a more joyful life. The study adds to a growing appreciation of how rhythm influences brain function and human culture.
Reference work: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abo7019
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Note: This summary presents findings from a controlled study and does not imply universal claims about cross-species music perception. Further research across species and conditions will help refine these insights.