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The evolution of the music faculty: a comparative perspective

Abstract

We propose a theoretical framework for exploring the evolution of the music faculty from a comparative perspective. This framework addresses questions of phylogeny, adaptive function, innate biases and perceptual mechanisms. We argue that comparative studies can make two unique contributions to investigations of the origins of music. First, musical exposure can be controlled and manipulated to an extent not possible in humans. Second, any features of music perception found in nonhuman animals must not be part of an adaptation for music, and must rather be side effects of more general features of perception or cognition. We review studies that use animal research to target specific aspects of music perception (such as octave generalization), as well as studies that investigate more general and shared systems of the mind/brain that may be relevant to music (such as rhythm perception and emotional encoding). Finally, we suggest several directions for future work, following the lead of comparative studies on the language faculty.

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Figure 1

Erin Boyle

Figure 2: Rhesus monkeys show octave generalization.

Bob Crimi

Figure 3: The primary classes of animals that sing.

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Acknowledgements

For comments on the paper, we thank R. Jackendoff and A. Patel. For support during the writing of this paper, M.H. acknowledges the McDonnell Foundation.

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Correspondence to Marc D Hauser or Josh McDermott.

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Hauser, M., McDermott, J. The evolution of the music faculty: a comparative perspective. Nat Neurosci 6, 663–668 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1080

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