Rats and men agree on same tempo

No cinephile has forgotten 120 beats per minute, the magnificent film by Robin Campillo, released in 2017, on the combat of the Act Up association against the AIDS pandemic. The director explained that he has chosen this enigmatic title in reference to the rhythm of the House Music, particularly in vogue in the 1980s in the gay communualty. A scientist could have clarified that the designers of the house had probably not chosen this tempo by chance: it is the one that allows the human body and brain to ideally synchronize the movements at the musical source.

In an article published Thursday, November 10, in the journal Science Advances, a team from the University of Tokyo showed that it was the same for the rat. By hanging on the neck of rodent with small accelerometers and equipping them with microelectrodes, they were able to observe both head movements and the activity of neurons in the hearing cortex during a listening session musical. With a final conclusion: not only do these charming critters adapt to outdoor music, but they do it ideally in the fork from 120 to 140 beats per minute (BPM).

To make sure, the researchers presented the music lovers of the day four versions of the sonata for two pianos, from Mozart, to different tempos: 132 BPM, the original rate, but also 99 (75 %) , 264 (200 %) and 528 BPM (400 %). The choice of the work does not be due to the composer’s love for rodents, or to that of Hirokazu Takahashi, the professor of electrophysiology coordinator of the study, for the Viennese genius. Simply, in 1991, the French researcher Alfred Tomatis affirmed, in support, that listening to this work boosted, at least temporarily, the intellectual performance of his listeners. The controversy on “the Mozart effect” is still running. But Sonata K488 has become a kind of experimental stallion in the matter, which here delivered a without appeal verdict: “Both in their movements and in brain activity, the rats ideally synchronize with the original version”, summarizes the Japanese researcher.

a tempo with deep evolving roots

Rats are not alone on this Floor dance. The canvas swarms with videos showing parrots flocking in music. Experiences have shown unexpected similar capacities in sea lions. Some other species of volatiles and mammals hit the club’s door. Why not the rat, therefore.

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/Media reports.