Babies Detect Music at 3 Months, Dance at 1 Year

An international team of researchers, including the University of Vienna, determined when humans begin to dance. Scientists found that infants’ brains process music as early as three months old, but more complex movements in response to music don’t appear until around one year of age.

The study, published in eLife, suggests musical experiences can be valuable for infants even before visible dancing begins. Researchers monitored the brain activity and bodily movements of 79 infants aged three, six, and twelve months while playing them children’s songs and altered versions of those songs.

The team discovered increased brain activity in three-month-olds listening to music compared to random tones, and a fundamental connection between music and movement across all age groups. Higher tones particularly encouraged movement. While rhythmic movements emerged as early as three months, coordinated synchronization with musical rhythm wasn’t observed.