Mice, like humans, instinctively move rhythmically when they hear music, according to a recent study from the University of Tokyo. Researchers have shown that the theory holds at least for the music of Mozart, Queen and Lady Gaga.
What is remarkable is that this naturally innate trait has so far only been demonstrated in humans and a handful of other animals, such as cockatoos. The researchers released the findings on Friday The progress of science.
According to lead researcher Hirokazu Takahashi, “It’s innate in rats to move when they hear a rhythmic beat, without any training and even if they’ve never been consciously exposed to music before.” He says that The Guardian.
In Tokyo, ten rats were fitted with tiny wireless meters that recorded even the smallest rhythmic movement. The researchers then played five pieces of music at different speeds to see if there were different reactions. This turned out to be the case: the mice responded to the beat of the music every time.
Among the musical fragments were Sonata for two pianos in D major there is Mozart Born like this van lady gaga inside Another bites the dust from Queen. The experiment was also conducted with twenty people.
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Music also has an effect on emotions in rats
Rats appear to move their heads rhythmically in the same way as humans. According to the researchers, these results demonstrate that the response to music is not entirely learned culturally, but is partly transmitted genetically.
“Music also appears to have a profound effect on the emotions of the mice,” they explain. The next step is research into the exact neurological connection that is created in the head when a rhythmic beat is heard.
With more specific findings, this knowledge could contribute to the use of music as therapy, because certain songs or rhythms can have an effect on the brain.
