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The study, carried out by a team of researchers from the University of Amsterdam and the HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences in Hungary, reveals that the ability to detect a beat isn’t solely a product of newborns’ statistical learning capacity. Instead, it’s a distinct cognitive mechanism already operational at birth. Published in the academic journal Cognition, these findings shed light on the early stages of how infants perceive and engage with music.
According to Henkjan Honing, a professor of Music Cognition at the UvA, there’s much yet to uncover regarding newborns’ perception, memory, and processing of music. He notes their discovery in 2009, indicating that even babies just a few days old possess the knack for recognizing a regular pulse – the beat – a crucial element in creating and enjoying music.
Given the previous research’s lack of replication and the lingering inquiries, the UvA and TTK collaborated again. This time, they employed a new approach. In an experiment involving 27 newborns, researchers manipulated drum rhythm timings to discern whether infants differentiate between learning sound sequence orders (statistical learning) and recognizing a beat (beat-induction).
Presented with two versions of a drum rhythm via headphones, the babies encountered an isochronous rhythm with consistent intervals between sounds, facilitating beat perception. Conversely, the other version featured the same drum pattern but with irregular timing (jittered), impeding beat perception while still allowing sound sequence learning. This method enabled researchers to distinguish between beat perception and statistical learning.
Given the limitations in observing behavioral responses in newborns, the study employed brain wave measurements (EEG) while the infants slept. This approach revealed that babies registered the beat when sound intervals remained consistent. However, when presented with the same pattern at irregular intervals, the babies didn’t perceive a beat.
Co-author Istvan Winkler, a professor at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology at TTK, emphasized the significance of this difference. He stated that perceiving the beat is inherent and not merely a result of learned sound sequences, underscoring its importance in early auditory development. Understanding early perception is vital for comprehending infant cognition and the potential role of musical abilities in early development.
Honing highlighted the importance of beat perception, noting its role in enabling people to synchronize movements and create music collectively. Despite seeming inconsequential, perceiving regularity in music is a fundamental human trait that likely played a crucial role in the evolution of our musical capabilities.
