The Influence of Music on Our Fewer Friends

Of course, it’s not entirely clear how other creatures on our planet perceive music, but it’s entirely possible to experimentally determine how music of different genres affects animals. Animals are known to have hearing that’s many times sharper than humans’, and they can perceive high frequencies, which is why high-frequency whistles are often used in training. Nikolai Nepomnyashchy pioneered research in this area. Scientists discovered that animals have an innate, excellent sense of rhythm. For example, circus horses always keep perfect time to the orchestral accompaniment, and dogs can dance or “sing” their favorite songs after their owners.

Elephants, Birds, and Heavy Metal

A study was conducted at a European poultry farm: heavy metal music was played on a chicken, and at the first sound, the bird began spinning wildly around, then fell backwards, shaking all over. However, it remained unclear how heavy the music was and how loud it was. It’s clear that if music is too loud, it’s not just a chicken that’s affected, it’s an elephant, too. Incidentally, in Africa, when elephants eat too much fermented fruit and begin to behave inappropriately, local residents drive them away using loud rock music.

Furthermore, fish, specifically carp, were also used as test subjects. The researchers divided the experimental subjects into two groups: the first was placed in light-proof containers, while the second was placed in transparent, well-lit containers. The first group of carp showed stunted growth, but listening to classical music from time to time stabilized the process. Heavy music, on the other hand, has a destructive effect, which is not surprising.

So, do animals have an ear for music? In various experiments conducted with African grey parrots, scientists concluded that these birds prefer rhythmic music, such as reggae, and that Bach’s works have a calming effect on them. It’s especially important to note that each parrot has a completely individual musical taste: some are delighted with reggae, while others prefer classical music. However, parrots are completely averse to electronic music. Rats also love good old classical music, especially Mozart, although some prefer modern music.

Elephants are noted for their musical memory and hearing – they can remember melodies consisting of three notes, and prefer instruments played in a low register (such as a tuba) and the delicate violin, but not the thin piping of a flute. According to experiments by Japanese scientists, even goldfish listen enthusiastically to classical compositions and can distinguish them.

The Effect of Music on Our Little Friends