Q: How does rhythm and music influence the brain and body—and why does it make us want to move?

Dr. Jessica: Music engages a widespread network of brain regions that are involved in listening and attention, movement and timing, emotion and memory, and more. And the effects are not limited to the brain- it also engages systems in the body that help us regulate stress and even prevent disease.

Rhythm has a special way of moving us, whether to dance or simply step or sway in time to the beat. This phenomenon, called rhythmic entrainment, is seen in humans from birth, and throughout childhood and adolescence the skills become increasingly developed and refined (especially with practice!).

And our musical tendencies, including moving to the beat and singing our favorite tunes, stay with us until the very late stages of our lives. In some cases, such as with dementia or Parkinson’s Disease, the ability to respond to music remains even when other parts of our health and identity are gone. Not only that, but those who have spent time in their lives making or moving to music see preventative effects later in life, for hearing, movement, cognitive and emotional skills.

Q: What role does music play in children’s cognitive development?

Dr. Jessica: Music and rhythm are incredible tools for cognitive development in children. The brain areas that are strengthened by music practice are also involved in language, attention and motor skills. What’s most important is that music integrates those areas so that the connections between them become stronger, and processing becomes more proficient and efficient.

Furthermore, when we see certain cognitive impairments or delays, including linguistic and motor, researchers can often see the roots of those delays in the brain’s processing of auditory sounds, timing, movement and attention. So for example, the rhythms in music and even language are both a tool for development and a signal when certain skills need more support. As we sing in my children’s musical, Finding Rhythm: “Rhythm grows your brain!”

Q: How do individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing experience rhythm and music?

Dr. Jessica: Feeling the beat is a multisensory phenomenon that is shared by most people, including so many in D/deaf and Hard of Hearing communities. In my own research and that of others in the field, we have seen that having reduced or even no access to sound does not prohibit finding rhythm in music, especially because rhythm engages not only the auditory system, but a set of systems that respond to the feeling of vibrations, plus the experience of our bodies moving in space whether we’re bobbing our heads, swaying or dancing. The great solo percussionist, Evelyn Glennie, who is profoundly deaf, teaches us that “sound is a form of touch”—and that enhances the feeling of rhythm in all of us!

Want to experience this for yourself? The next time you listen to a favorite song, especially one with a good beat or bass line, see if you can notice any body sensations, such as on your skin, or even in bones or your chest. Where do you FEEL the sound?

This simple awareness can become a powerful mindfulness practice, for both children and adults.