Asked by: Phil Stokes, Quethiock
Psychologists have identified three factors that contribute to differences in people’s rhythmic ability: short-term auditory memory, the ability to sense a regular timing structure in sounds (‘beat sensitivity’) and musical training.
A study of 62 people published in 2012 found that each of these factors was independently correlated with participants’ ability to reproduce a rhythmic beat by tapping it out (music training was also associated with better auditory memory and beat sensitivity).
The research also showed that rather than some people having rhythm and others lacking it, there was a continuous spread of ability among the participants, from low to high.
Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.
