Rhythm is a central component of music. Rhythm refers to the absolute timing of individual notes or sounds. The ability to perceive and produce rhythm enables people to make music. Research has shown that rhythmic abilities (tapping to a metronome, rhythm reproduction, or movement to music) have several cognitive benefits (Colverson, 2024).
1. Positive effects of musical rhythm
Music is an essentially temporal experience (unfolds over time), and the temporal structures by which music reveals itself are critical to listeners’ aesthetic and emotional reactions. The perception of musical rhythm stimulates the release and circulation of dopamine throughout the brain, leading to movement and the experience of pleasure. Music with a regular and predictable rhythm can lead to states of enjoyment and transcendence.
2. Rhythm and movement
When you hear a song playing somewhere, you might find yourself tapping your fingers or moving your head to the rhythm. If you’re walking, your footsteps may fall in line with the beat. Moving to musical rhythm is one of the most universal aspects of music. This movement tends to be synchronized to the regularities in the rhythms and is enjoyable. Moving to music occurs spontaneously, without training.
3. Rhythmic interactions
Music has the power to create cohesion and unity of purpose in groups by drawing individuals into the greater whole (Gioia, 2006). Our internal rhythm can be altered and improved by the rhythms around us. We adapt to the rhythmic movement around us (e.g., walking through a crowded street or driving). Being in sync with another person produces positive feelings toward them.
4. Rhythm processing and cognition
From the very beginning, children are responsive to rhythms and acquire increasingly complex rhythmic skills over the course of development. Research has shown positive associations between rhythmic abilities and different cognitive abilities such as language, motor function, and executive functions. Research has shown that rhythm training can improve reading abilities in children with dyslexia (Frischen, 2021). Children who cannot otherwise speak can form words and sentences in a rhythmic conversation with another person.
5. Rhythm and self-control
Rhythmic practice also promotes working memory, and inhibition skills in young childhood (Wang, 2024). Inhibitory control and working memory support each other. Rhythmic movement can enhance a child’s ability to sustain attention and focus on tasks. Rhythm-based activities, such as drumming or dancing, often require children to follow specific rules and maintain control over their movements. These activities can help children develop inhibitory control, which is crucial for managing impulses and making thoughtful decisions.
6. Benefits for an aging brain
Rhythmic musical activities benefit aging cognition. Engaging in rhythmic musical activities may provide holistic benefits to aging adults capable of participating both physically and cognitively. There is also evidence that participation in rhythmic musical activities (such as dance) reduces age-related cognitive decline and improves quality of life in populations with neurodegenerative disease (Colverson, et al., 2024). Research also suggests that rhythmic musical training positively affects short-term memory (Zanto et al., 2022). After eight weeks of in-home training (five days/week, 20-min each day) significant improvements were seen in short-term memory of faces.
7. Rhythm in sport
Rhythmic training is a promising new approach to improving timing performance and movement efficiency in athletes. Precisely coordinated team movements (the ability to control exactly when something should be done) is a key aspect of elite sports performance (McCrary & Gould, 2023). For example, in sports like running and cycling, synchronizing one’s speed to music has shown to improve movement efficiency and performance.
In sum, research studies show that rhythmic abilities are connected to the development of non-musical abilities. Dancing is an excellent example. It may have protective effects on cognition in older adults. Dancing is inherently rhythmical, requiring coordination among multiple brain and body systems to accurately execute movements.
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