Can newborns detect rhythm in music?

Yes, research indicates that newborns can detect and predict rhythmic patterns in music.

Do newborns process melody like rhythm?

No, studies suggest that while newborns can predict rhythm, their brains do not show the same response to melodic variations.

Is rhythm perception innate or learned?

Rhythm perception appears to be an ancient, innate auditory ability, while melody is thought to depend on human brain specializations shaped by post-birth learning.

Home / Science / Newborns Detect Rhythm, Not Melody, Study Finds

Newborns Detect Rhythm, Not Melody, Study Finds

6 Feb

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Summary

Newborns can predict rhythmic patterns but not melodies.
Rhythm perception is ancient; melody develops post-birth.
Brain activity confirms rhythm prediction in infants.

Newborns Detect Rhythm, Not Melody, Study Finds

Research indicates that newborns possess the remarkable ability to anticipate rhythmic patterns in music, a fundamental human trait. Babies in the womb begin responding to music around eight or nine months, and memory for music can persist even after birth.

However, it was previously unclear how deeply infants processed musical elements. This study suggests newborns can detect and predict rhythm but not melody. Rhythm appears to be linked to ancient auditory abilities shared with other primates.

In contrast, melody seems to depend on human brain specializations shaped by post-birth learning. This distinction may explain why melodies vary significantly across cultures, while rhythms tend to follow more universal patterns, possibly rooted in prenatal experiences like the mother's heartbeat.

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