When does the brain first respond to music?
A study published in eLife reveals that infants as young as three months can recognize melodies, and by their first birthday, they begin to dance spontaneously to music. Researchers found that while the brain encodes musical structure early, significant movement responses to music emerge around one year of age, with infants showing rhythmic movements like swaying and clapping. This research enhances understanding of the innate human connection to music and its impact on development.