Rhythmic parameters across contexts in the percussive behaviour of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)
Lindelöf, Marcus ; Sauciuc, Gabriela-Alina LU ; Toumine, Milo LU and Persson, Tomas LU
(2025)
SweCog 2025
p.8-8
- Abstract
- Humans have a propensity for rhythmicity, notably expressed in the domains of lan-
guage and music. It is expressed through the abilities to produce and perceive rhyth-
mic signals, as well as entrainment, which is the ability to synchronise movements in
relation to external rhythmic stimuli (e.g., dancing). However, it remains unclear as
to how, why or when this rhythmic propensity evolved.
A comparative approach has become increasingly relevant for answering these ques-
tions, where one is investigating the rhythmic capabilities of various non-human
species, from cephalopods and arthropods to primates. The most basic form of rhyth-
micity is the production of rhythmic behaviour (through e.g. vocalisation,... (More) - Humans have a propensity for rhythmicity, notably expressed in the domains of lan-
guage and music. It is expressed through the abilities to produce and perceive rhyth-
mic signals, as well as entrainment, which is the ability to synchronise movements in
relation to external rhythmic stimuli (e.g., dancing). However, it remains unclear as
to how, why or when this rhythmic propensity evolved.
A comparative approach has become increasingly relevant for answering these ques-
tions, where one is investigating the rhythmic capabilities of various non-human
species, from cephalopods and arthropods to primates. The most basic form of rhyth-
micity is the production of rhythmic behaviour (through e.g. vocalisation, percussion,
stridulation, etc.), which is present across a multitude of species. Less common is the
competence to recognise rhythmic structures in external stimuli and be able to syn-
chronise according to these rhythmic structures.
In this observational study concerning spontaneous percussive behaviours in chim-
panzees (Pan troglodytes), 159 bouts were collected from 20 individuals across three
sites (Furuvik, Sweden; Kolmården, Sweden; Mona Fundacion, Spain). For these
bouts, the frequency rates were established, as well as rhythmic parameters such as
variability, integer ratios, and best fitting model of the frequencies. These measure-
ments were analysed in relation to various categorical variables, such as context, sex,
and type of behaviour, enabling assessments of how rhythmicity varies depending on
these variables.
Mapping the rhythmic competencies of the closest living relatives to humans could
help to elucidate the evolutionary roots of the rhythmic capacities found in humans.
The results of this study contribute to this endeavour, by characterising the rhyth-
mic properties of percussive behaviour, and how it potentially varies depending on
context. Thus far, the preliminary results of this study indicate that the chimpanzee
percussive behaviour is quasi-isochronous, that is produced at significantly higher
rates in attention-seeking and agonistic contexts and that females are more prone to
engage in percussive behaviour than previous literature suggests. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/c20961bc-73e7-4754-8107-d66db9e911d7
- author
- Lindelöf, Marcus
; Sauciuc, Gabriela-Alina
LU
; Toumine, Milo
LU
and Persson, Tomas
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- published
- subject
- pages
- 1 pages
- conference name
- SweCog 2025
- conference location
- Lund, Sweden
- conference dates
- 2025-10-08 - 2025-10-09
- project
- The evolution of musicality: synchronisation behaviours and rhythm perception in chimpanzees
- Where does human cooperation come from? The evolutionary origins of the ability to infer shared goals and motivations
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- c20961bc-73e7-4754-8107-d66db9e911d7
- alternative location
- https://konferens.ht.lu.se/fileadmin/user_upload/konferens/swecog/Book_of_abstracts_Sweccog_Final_Full.pdf#page=8
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-29 12:46:21
- date last changed
- 2026-02-06 12:28:00
@misc{c20961bc-73e7-4754-8107-d66db9e911d7,
abstract = {{Humans have a propensity for rhythmicity, notably expressed in the domains of lan-<br/>guage and music. It is expressed through the abilities to produce and perceive rhyth-<br/>mic signals, as well as entrainment, which is the ability to synchronise movements in<br/>relation to external rhythmic stimuli (e.g., dancing). However, it remains unclear as<br/>to how, why or when this rhythmic propensity evolved.<br/>A comparative approach has become increasingly relevant for answering these ques-<br/>tions, where one is investigating the rhythmic capabilities of various non-human<br/>species, from cephalopods and arthropods to primates. The most basic form of rhyth-<br/>micity is the production of rhythmic behaviour (through e.g. vocalisation, percussion,<br/>stridulation, etc.), which is present across a multitude of species. Less common is the<br/>competence to recognise rhythmic structures in external stimuli and be able to syn-<br/>chronise according to these rhythmic structures.<br/>In this observational study concerning spontaneous percussive behaviours in chim-<br/>panzees (Pan troglodytes), 159 bouts were collected from 20 individuals across three<br/>sites (Furuvik, Sweden; Kolmården, Sweden; Mona Fundacion, Spain). For these<br/>bouts, the frequency rates were established, as well as rhythmic parameters such as<br/>variability, integer ratios, and best fitting model of the frequencies. These measure-<br/>ments were analysed in relation to various categorical variables, such as context, sex,<br/>and type of behaviour, enabling assessments of how rhythmicity varies depending on<br/>these variables.<br/>Mapping the rhythmic competencies of the closest living relatives to humans could<br/>help to elucidate the evolutionary roots of the rhythmic capacities found in humans.<br/>The results of this study contribute to this endeavour, by characterising the rhyth-<br/>mic properties of percussive behaviour, and how it potentially varies depending on<br/>context. Thus far, the preliminary results of this study indicate that the chimpanzee<br/>percussive behaviour is quasi-isochronous, that is produced at significantly higher<br/>rates in attention-seeking and agonistic contexts and that females are more prone to<br/>engage in percussive behaviour than previous literature suggests.}},
author = {{Lindelöf, Marcus and Sauciuc, Gabriela-Alina and Toumine, Milo and Persson, Tomas}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{8--8}},
title = {{Rhythmic parameters across contexts in the percussive behaviour of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)}},
url = {{https://konferens.ht.lu.se/fileadmin/user_upload/konferens/swecog/Book_of_abstracts_Sweccog_Final_Full.pdf#page=8}},
year = {{2025}},
}