Humans can find rhythm in randomly timed sounds
Humans are keen pattern-seekers and take advantage of regularities present in their environment. In the temporal domain, we may call these patterns rhythms, but what is rhythm? Definitions vary, but all presuppose a categorical distinction between rhythm and randomness. Here, we challenge this view...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250453 |
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| author | Jelle van der Werff Tommaso Tufarelli Laura Verga Andrea Ravignani |
| author_facet | Jelle van der Werff Tommaso Tufarelli Laura Verga Andrea Ravignani |
| author_sort | Jelle van der Werff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Humans are keen pattern-seekers and take advantage of regularities present in their environment. In the temporal domain, we may call these patterns rhythms, but what is rhythm? Definitions vary, but all presuppose a categorical distinction between rhythm and randomness. Here, we challenge this view and show that two types of random sound sequences—classically considered arrhythmic by experimenters—differ in the amount of regularity humans reconstruct from them. When asked to synchronize to randomly timed sounds, participants leverage statistics to estimate the underlying tempo of the sequence, similar to linear statistical estimators. Theoretically, our results challenge current definitions of rhythm by showing that rhythmicity and randomness are instances of a continuum. Methodologically, our data and mathematical model show that a common method for creating random timing, namely the jittering of event onsets, introduces an undesirable regularity that humans readily exploit. New experiments should aim to maximize temporal randomness, and past experiments’ outcomes require reconsideration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c3544d1a6e25492dbf96fcae0dbcf7e7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-c3544d1a6e25492dbf96fcae0dbcf7e72025-08-20T04:39:00ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032025-08-0112810.1098/rsos.250453Humans can find rhythm in randomly timed soundsJelle van der Werff0Tommaso Tufarelli1Laura Verga2Andrea Ravignani3Department of Human Neurosciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Lazio, ItalyUnaffiliated, Beeston NG9, UKComparative Bioacoustics Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, Gelderland, The NetherlandsDepartment of Human Neurosciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Lazio, ItalyHumans are keen pattern-seekers and take advantage of regularities present in their environment. In the temporal domain, we may call these patterns rhythms, but what is rhythm? Definitions vary, but all presuppose a categorical distinction between rhythm and randomness. Here, we challenge this view and show that two types of random sound sequences—classically considered arrhythmic by experimenters—differ in the amount of regularity humans reconstruct from them. When asked to synchronize to randomly timed sounds, participants leverage statistics to estimate the underlying tempo of the sequence, similar to linear statistical estimators. Theoretically, our results challenge current definitions of rhythm by showing that rhythmicity and randomness are instances of a continuum. Methodologically, our data and mathematical model show that a common method for creating random timing, namely the jittering of event onsets, introduces an undesirable regularity that humans readily exploit. New experiments should aim to maximize temporal randomness, and past experiments’ outcomes require reconsideration.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250453rhythmtimingtemporal randomness |
| spellingShingle | Jelle van der Werff Tommaso Tufarelli Laura Verga Andrea Ravignani Humans can find rhythm in randomly timed sounds Royal Society Open Science rhythm timing temporal randomness |
| title | Humans can find rhythm in randomly timed sounds |
| title_full | Humans can find rhythm in randomly timed sounds |
| title_fullStr | Humans can find rhythm in randomly timed sounds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Humans can find rhythm in randomly timed sounds |
| title_short | Humans can find rhythm in randomly timed sounds |
| title_sort | humans can find rhythm in randomly timed sounds |
| topic | rhythm timing temporal randomness |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250453 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jellevanderwerff humanscanfindrhythminrandomlytimedsounds AT tommasotufarelli humanscanfindrhythminrandomlytimedsounds AT lauraverga humanscanfindrhythminrandomlytimedsounds AT andrearavignani humanscanfindrhythminrandomlytimedsounds |