By 12 months of age, infants begin to move their bodies in response to music—even though their brains can decode musical structure months earlier, according to a new study published in eLife.
The research
Researchers at the University of Trento and elsewhere monitored infants using simultaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) brain mapping and automated video motion-tracking. The team, led by Trinh Nguyen, played three audio formats: instrumental child refrains (real music), structurally randomized versions of the same songs (shuffled music, which disrupts predictable rhythm), and pitch-altered variations. Infants in three age groups—3, 6, and 12 months—listened while their brain activity and spontaneous movements were recorded.
EEG results showed that infants in all three groups had significantly enhanced event-related potentials (ERPs) and auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) when hearing real music versus shuffled music. This indicates the biological hardware for decoding musical structure is online early in infancy.
But behavior told a different story. Only the 12-month-olds showed a significant spike in spontaneous physical movement when listening to structured music compared to shuffled music. The 3- and 6-month-olds showed no statistical difference in movement between the audio types. Using motion-tracking software DeepLabCut paired with Principal Component Analysis, the team identified 10 principal movements, including front-back rocking, side swaying, proto-clapping, up-down rocking, and arm-pedalling. The 12-month-olds' dance response was driven primarily by these upper-body and limb movements; lower-body movements remained consistent across all musical states.
Notably, none of the infants synchronized their movements to the actual beat. This suggests motor control develops in steps: first the brain learns to activate muscles in response to sound structure, and later the ability to entrain to a beat emerges. The authors attribute the 12-month shift to the maturation of the dorsal auditory stream, a neural pathway bridging auditory perception and motor output.
Why it matters
This research highlights that musicality—our capacity to perceive, appreciate, and produce music—develops through distinct sensory and motor phases. For anyone interested in cognition, it underscores that brain networks don't mature all at once. The dorsal auditory stream, which supports rhythm and movement, follows its own timeline. Understanding these milestones can inform early childhood enrichment and remind us that cognitive abilities are built over time, not pre-wired from birth.
What you can do
- If you care for an infant, expose them to varied, structured music—not just background noise. Their brain is already processing patterns long before they can dance.
- Encourage movement activities like swaying, clapping, or bouncing to music, even before beat-syncing appears. This may help strengthen auditory-motor connections.
- For adults, rhythmic activities such as drumming, dancing, or playing an instrument can challenge and refine similar brain pathways. Try a simple rhythm exercise: tap your foot to a beat, then switch to clapping, then alternate.
Source: Neuroscience News
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