Overview
- The peer‑reviewed findings were published February 5 in PLOS Biology by Roberta Bianco and colleagues.
- Researchers tested 49 healthy infants less than two days old as they slept, playing 10 Bach piano pieces and four shuffled control versions.
- EEG data showed clear neural surprise when rhythms changed unexpectedly, but no comparable response to melodic deviations.
- The authors interpret the pattern as evidence that rhythm is an early feature of auditory perception, whereas melody is learned through experience.
- The study did not assess developmental outcomes or the effects of musical exposure, and the team calls for prenatal and longitudinal research to probe those questions.