Evolutionary origins of musicality: Comparative cognitive study about an ability to anticipate auditory rhythm and melody

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H04490
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90030:Cognitive science-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Hattori Yuko 京都大学, ヒト行動進化研究センター, 助教 (60621670)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ユ リラ 東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 特別研究員 (60760709)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: アイトラッキング / 聴覚コミュニケーション / リズム生成 / リズム知覚

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although music, such as dance and choral music, is said to be universal human communication, its evolutionary origins are not yet fully understood. In this study, research was conducted in humans, chimpanzees and gibbons with the aim of clarifying their sensitivity and characteristics to rhythm and considering the evolutionary origins of human musicality by presenting auditory rhythms and analysing their pupillary and behavioural responses during such rhythms. Specifically, (i) eye-tracking experimental scenes were established for gibbons, (ii) pupillary changes during an auditory oddball task: an interspecies comparison between humans, chimpanzees and gibbons, and (iii) analysis of chimpanzee display behaviours was conducted to clarify its characteristics.

Free Research Field

比較認知科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、初めてテナガザルを対象にアイトラッキング技術を用いて視線及び瞳孔反応を測定できる状況を確立した。これにより、類人猿でも発声能力が高いテナガザルの認知能力の特性をより明らかにできる基盤を整えた点は学術的意義が大きい。また、道具を用いたチンパンジーのディスプレイについては、パントフートディスプレイと同様の時系列的構造（Introduction, Development, Climax, Letdown）が確認された。これは、ある程度の長さのあるリズミカルなディスプレイは、共通の機能をもっており、覚醒状態を下げるといった同じ目的のために表現されている可能性が考えられる。