Precursors of Dancing and Singing to Music in Three- to Four-Months-Old Infants

Abstract

Dancing and singing to music involve auditory-motor coordination and have been essential to our human culture since ancient times. Although scholars have been trying to understand the evolutionary and developmental origin of music, early human developmental manifestations of auditory-motor interactions in music have not been fully investigated. Here we report limb movements and vocalizations in three- to four-months-old infants while they listened to music and were in silence. In the group analysis, we found no significant increase in the amount of movement or in the relative power spectrum density around the musical tempo in the music condition compared to the silent condition. Intriguingly, however, there were two infants who demonstrated striking increases in the rhythmic movements via kicking or arm-waving around the musical tempo during listening to music. Monte-Carlo statistics with phase-randomized surrogate data revealed that the limb movements of these individuals were significantly synchronized to the musical beat. Moreover, we found a clear increase in the formant variability of vocalizations in the group during music perception. These results suggest that infants at this age are already primed with their bodies to interact with music via limb movements and vocalizations.

Potentials of speech disorders correction in 4-6 yrs children by means of ergo and art therapy

“…Yerasyk) [7]; rhythm-motor abilities [6,22]. Assessment in points was realized in the following way: high level -9-10 points; above average -7-8, average -5-6, below average -3-4 and low level -1-2 points [6].…”

“…Since long ago it has been known, what great potentials are in synthesis of music and movements. Besides, influence of different cognitive and emotional-moral educational means was found: reading [1,3,4]; folk tales [4,12]; music and dances [6,22]; amateur theatre performances [17]; sports practicing and computer technologies [26]. Musical rhythmic movements are a synthetic kind of activity; they are of special importance for children.…”

“…It also relates to Brock's area, which participates in speech formation [6,30]. Constant changes of dance compositions and rhythms stimulate brain neurons for re-switching and, thus, develop functional mobility of nervous processes [17,22,28]. With it specially selected music optimizes brain functioning and facilitates development of verbal and non-verbal intellect.…”

Mastering of musical rhythm by pre-school age children with speech disorders with the help of dance-correction program trainings

“…To this activity we can relate drumming and play other musical instruments, dances, and singing [13,15,19]. Musical sounds cause spontaneous body reactionsmotion in tact, rhythmic tapping, clapping [16,17,22]. It is also known that newborns imitate faces and gestures of adults [18], synchronize movements of their bodies with adults' speech [14].…”

“…In the age of one year babies can fulfill more rhythmic movements, show emotions, listening to music [24]. Rather often adults' drumming causes spontaneous reaction of senior pre-school age children: they also start drumming [17]. Thus, music's influence on child's brain with specially selected program is a structuralizing mean and optimizes brain's functioning in period of its formation.…”