The rhythm of horse gaits.
Abstract: What makes animal gaits so audibly rhythmic? To answer this question, we recorded the footfall sound of 19 horses and quantified the rhythmic differences in the temporal structure of three natural gaits: walk, trot, and canter. Our analyses show that each gait displays a strikingly specific rhythmic pattern and that all gaits are organized according to small-integer ratios, those found when adjacent temporal intervals are related by a mathematically simple relationship of integer numbers. Walk and trot exhibit an isochronous structure (1:1)-similar to a ticking clock-while canter is characterized by three small-integer ratios (1:1, 1:2, 2:1). While walk and trot both show isochrony, trot has a slower tempo and is more precise and accurate, like a metronome. Our results quantitatively discriminate horse gaits based on rhythm, revealing striking commonalities with human music and some animal communicative signals. Gait and vocal rhythmicity share key features, and the former likely predates the latter; we suggest this supports gait-based hypotheses for the evolution of rhythm. Specifically, the perception of locomotor rhythmicity may have evolved in different species under pressure for predator recognition and mate selection; it may have been later exapted for rhythmic vocal communication.
© 2024 The Author(s). Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The New York Academy of Sciences.
Publication Date: 2024-12-28 PubMed ID: 39731731DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15271Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research study analyzes the rhythmic footfall sounds of horses’ natural gaits to uncover distinct rhythmic patterns and explore the evolution of rhythm in animal communication.
Research Methods and Findings
- The researchers captured the footfall sound of 19 horses to identify and quantify the rhythmic differences in their natural gaits: walk, trot, and canter.
- Analysis showed each gait presents a notable specific rhythmic pattern, all organized according to small-integer ratios; these integers establish a simple mathematical relationship between temporal intervals of the gait.
- The gaits walk and trot demonstrate an identical and consistent rhythmic structure (1:1), similar to the repetitive ticking of a clock. On the other hand, the canter gait featured three small-integer ratios (1:1, 1:2, 2:1).
- Moreover, while both the walk and trot gaits are syncopated, the trot gait has a slower tempo and was found to be more accurate and precise, akin to a metronome.
Significance and Implications
- The findings not only allow discrimination between horse gaits based on their distinct rhythms, but also establish a remarkable similarity between these rhythms and elements of human music and certain animal communication signals.
- The research also explores evolutionary theories, suggesting that the rhythmic patterns found in animals’ gaits may predate those found in their vocal communication.
- Furthermore, the study hypothesizes that rhythm perception in a gait could have evolved in different species under environmental pressures, such as predator recognition or mate selection. This rhythmic ability might have eventually been adapted for vocal rhythmic communication.
The findings contribute valuable insights into the study of animal behavior, communication, and evolutionary processes.
Cite This Article
APA
Laffi L, Raimondi T, Ferrante C, Pagliara E, Bertuglia A, Briefer EF, Gamba M, Ravignani A.
(2024).
The rhythm of horse gaits.
Ann N Y Acad Sci.
https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.15271 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
- Fondazione ZOOM, Cumiana, Turin, Italy.
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Aarhus, Denmark.
Grant Funding
- 101041885 / HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council
- RGP0019/2022 / Human Frontier Science Program
- DNRF117 / Danmarks Grundforskningsfond
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