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Rhythm perception in early infancy

Nature volume 266, pages 718–719 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

THE chief characteristic of rhythm perception is the subjective grouping of objectively separate events. In a rhythmic sequence of identical tone-bursts, adults do not perceive the repetition of a single sound, but a recurring configuration which has temporal form. Such a sequence is organised according to the Gestalt law of proximity1,2. Organisation of temporal form has never been studied systematically in pre-verbal infants. We present here results suggesting a precocious achievement of this function and contrasting with previous research3 which failed to demonstrate organisation of spatial form by babies in accordance with the proximity law.

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References

  1. Koffka, K. Principles of Gestalt Psychology (Harcourt, Brace and World, New York, 1963).

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  2. Fraisse, P. Les Structures Rythmiques (Publications Universitaires de Louvain, Louvain, 1956); Psychologie du Rythme (Presses Universitaires de France, Paris, 1974).

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  3. Bower, T. G. R. Psychon. Sci. 3, 323–324 (1965); Percept. Psychophys. 2, 74–76 (1967).

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  4. Maurer, D. in Infant Perception: From Sensation to Cognition 1 (eds Cohen, L. B. & Salapatek, P.) 1–76 (Academic, New York, 1975).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Psychologie Expérimentale et Comparée, Université René Descartes, 28 rue Serpente, 75006, Paris, France

    LAURENT DEMANY, BERYL MCKENZIE & ELIANE VURPILLOT

  2. La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia

    BERYL MCKENZIE

Authors
  1. LAURENT DEMANY
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  2. BERYL MCKENZIE
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  3. ELIANE VURPILLOT
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DEMANY, L., MCKENZIE, B. & VURPILLOT, E. Rhythm perception in early infancy. Nature 266, 718–719 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/266718a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/266718a0

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