Who knew that chimpanzees love to dance? They also like to clap to music, and nod their head, tap their feet and move time the rhythm. A new study shows that chimpanzees could appreciate music. The researchers are Kyoto University in Japan. They say their study could help us understand how early humans developed an interest music. Researchers Dr Yuko Hattori and professor Masaki Tomonaga conducted tests seven chimps. They played the apes six two-minute songs a piano for six days. The researchers said the chimps had a definite sense rhythm and it changed their mood. The male chimpanzees seemed to respond to the melodies more than the females.
The researchers wrote that chimpanzees could have passed a liking for music and dance to early humans millions years ago. This could have happened a common ancestor six million years ago. The researchers said the study suggested that our love dancing was deep inside the earliest humans. Dr Hattori said: "Chimpanzees dance to some extent the same way as humans." She added: "In humans, listening to music causes rhythmic movement, suggesting a close connection the auditory and motor areas the brain." She believes the research could shed light the evolution dancing in humans and why we love melody and rhythm so much.
