14°c Overcast
11°c Cloudy with clear breaks
Health Day - ONLINE EDITION
Are Rhesus Monkeys Musically Challenged?
Unlike humans, they're unable to detect a beat, study says
Unlike humans, they're unable to detect a beat, study says.
THURSDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Rhesus monkeys cannot hear the beat in music, a new study says.
The findings support the view that this ability -- known as beat induction -- is a uniquely human skill, the researchers said. The research also contributes to the understanding of the biology and evolution of music, they said.
For the study, published recently in the journal PLoS One, the researchers assessed the monkeys' ability to hear the beat in music by using electrodes to measure electrical brain signals when the animals listened to music.
While the monkeys were unable to pick up the beat in music, they were able to detect rhythmic groups in music, according to the researchers from the University of Amsterdam and the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Previous research found that human adults and newborns can detect the beat in music. This proved that people are born with beat induction and do not need to learn it, the researchers said. Only humans and certain bird species have this natural ability, they noted.
More information
You can learn about the science of music at Exploratorium.
More Your Health
- Back to Top
- Return to Your Health
More Your Health
(1 of 5 articles for today)
Health Highlights: May 25, 2013
9:00 AM 0Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
'Nanoparticle' Flu Vaccine ...
Poll
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.