Humans are born with an innate capacity for music. Research shows that babies can detect rhythm and melody from birth, before language or social routines. This suggests that music is part of human biology rather than a skill learned through culture.
The study refines our understanding of musicality as a combination of abilities, including beat tracking, pitch grouping, memory for pattern, and emotional response. These skills may not share one origin, but work together to create music. Animal research supports the idea that these abilities are shared across species.
The brain processes music differently than speech, with separate pathways for each. This is evident in people with congenital amusia, who can learn new words but struggle with musical patterns. Music likely emerged as an integration of existing systems for hearing, movement, and emotion, rather than a single new faculty.
This understanding has implications for clinical practices, such as using music to support speech recovery, walking practice, and emotional regulation. The biological basis of music offers a clearer target for research and a more nuanced understanding of human variety in musical expression.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/human-brains-are-wired-for-music-at-the-very-start-of-life