Overview
- Northwestern University scientists report that many animals repeat communication signals near two beats per second across sound, light, and movement.
- The project began with field recordings in Thailand, where fireflies and nearby crickets produced independent signals at similar tempos rather than synchronizing.
- A review of prior studies found most rhythmic signals cluster between 0.5 and 4 hertz across insects, fish, frogs, birds, and mammals.
- Computer models showed simple neural circuits respond most strongly to inputs spaced a few hundred milliseconds apart, pointing to a brain-resonance explanation.
- The observed tempo mirrors human habits such as 120-beat-per-minute pop music and typical walking cadence, suggesting shared biophysical timing across species.