Chimpanzee’s Drum Solo Offers Clues to Origins of Music

Mar 31, 2026 - 12:45
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Chimpanzee’s Drum Solo Offers Clues to Origins of Music
Ayumu the chimpanzee spontaneously produced long, multicomponent instrumental displays by drumming, dragging, and throwing self-detached objects. Transition and rhythm analyses revealed non-random sequencing partially resembling pant-hoot structure, predominantly isochronous timing, and a more stable tempo when using tools than with the body. Accompanying play-face and silent bared teeth expressions suggest high arousal and positive affect, supporting the idea that affective vocal expression can be externalized through instrumental sound. Image credit: Hattori et al., doi: 10.1111/nyas.70239.

Researchers who analyzed dozens of spontaneous performances by a captive male chimpanzee named Ayumu say the animal’s steady rhythms and expressive ‘play face’ hint at how early humans may have transformed vocal emotion into instrumental sound.

The post Chimpanzee’s Drum Solo Offers Clues to Origins of Music appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

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