Non‑vocal beat synchronization in primates

A 2025 Science experiment trained two macaque monkeys to tap in time with pop songs (e.g., Backstreet Boys) using juice rewards; the animals produced beat‑aligned taps despite macaques being classified as non‑vocal learners. This finding undermines the simple claim that beat synchronization requires complex vocal imitation and suggests alternative neural or motor pathways (e.g., entrainment, predictive timing) can support rhythmic cognition. — If beat perception isn’t tied solely to vocal learning, theories about the evolutionary origins of music and speech must be revised, affecting neuroscience research priorities, AI models of sensorimotor timing, and public claims about human uniqueness.