Eleuteri, Vesta, van der Werff, Jelle, Wilhelm, Wytse et al. (18 more authors) (2025) Chimpanzee drumming shows rhythmicity and subspecies variation. Current Biology. 2448-2456.e4. ISSN 0960-9822
Abstract
Rhythmic percussion is present across human cultures and has been proposed as one of the earliest evolved forms of musical expression. 1 Key features of human rhythmic percussion include individual and regional variation, as well as structural features widespread across musical cultures, such as the use of non-random timing and isochrony (i.e., evenly spaced note onsets). 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 Comparative studies of drumming in our ape relatives contribute to understanding the evolutionary origins of human rhythmic percussion. In this context, large, diverse datasets allow testing for species-level universals and regional variation. Chimpanzees and bonobos, like humans, drum on instrumental substrates. 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 Wild chimpanzees drum on resonant tree buttresses, showing individual variation during traveling and resting contexts, and often integrate drumming into their long-distance pant-hoot vocalizations. 6 , 7 , 8 But whether wild chimpanzee drumming shows structural musical features and regional variation in rhythm or in its integration within pant-hoots remains unknown. We show that wild chimpanzees drum with non-random timing and isochrony, providing evidence that rhythmic drumming on instrumental substrates may have been present in our last common ancestor. 2 Furthermore, we found subspecies-level regional rhythmic variation, showing that western chimpanzees drum isochronously, while eastern chimpanzees drum by alternating shorter and longer inter-hit intervals. Western chimpanzees also produce more drumming hits, drum at a faster tempo, and integrate drumming earlier in the pant-hoot vocalization, typically during the rhythmic build-up phase. Chimpanzee buttress drumming shows both species-level structural features of human musicality and stable subspecies regional differences across diverse ecologies.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Psychology (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 20 May 2025 15:00 |
Last Modified: | 20 May 2025 15:00 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.019 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.019 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:226912 |
Download
Filename: 1-s2.0-S0960982225004488-main.pdf
Description: 1-s2.0-S0960982225004488-main
Licence: CC-BY 2.5