Tomoyo Shiramatsu Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo

Rhythm is one of the Shitsukans in music, and rhythm-induced body movement is one of the universal characteristics that transcends musical genres. In the previous study, we demonstrated that rhythm in our famous music also induce body movements in rats and activates their brain, which provides experimental setups for research on animal models to elucidate the neural basis of rhythm perception. In this study, we aim to answer a key question in Shitsukan research, whether these perception and synchronized movement for rhythm is an innate ability or acquired through experience, by adding new techniques for behavioral measurement through collaboration and for analysis of neural activity. Specifically, we investigate how exposure to music and repetitive synchronized movements alter rhythmic information processing in the auditory cortex and patterns of induced body movement. This study will contribute to our understanding of information processing for Shitsukan in the real world, by clarifying the process by which actual experiences for Shitsukan, such as music listening with body movement, mature the sensitivity for music via the brain and body.