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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Hannah Devlin Science correspondent

Slaves to the rhythm: rats can’t resist a good beat, researchers say

White rat standing on two legs
Rats were fitted with miniature accelerometers and played excerpts from Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major. Photograph: Thomas Leirikh/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Music makes you lose control, Missy Elliott once sang on a hit that is almost impossible to hear without bopping along. Now scientists have discovered that rats also find rhythmic beats irresistible, showing how they instinctively move in time to music.

This ability was previously thought to be uniquely human and scientists say the discovery provides insights into the animal mind and the origins of music and dance.

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