Monkeys Enjoy a Good Time
Monkeys may have more in common with humans than scientists previously thought. Classic childhood songs such as “Happy Birthday” and “Old McDonald” can become just as ingrained in a monkey’s brain as in an infant’s.
In one study, two adult rhesus monkeys listened to various sounds, such as an owl hooting or a horn blowing. They were then conditioned to report whether the sound they were presented with matched another sound heard a second later.
Following the success of that study, researchers asked if the musical monkeys were able to identify whether 12 different childhood songs were played on a piano, guitar, or other instrument. It turns out that they could even recognize the song if the melody was slightly altered. No one is yet sure just why the ability to perceive melodies shows up in primates or what use, if any, this innate musicality may have.
