Short Wave Babies got beat: Why rhythm might be innate
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Feb 6, 2026 
Juana Summers, NPR political reporter and program host, joins to explore science stories. She walks through newborns’ surprising ability to track complex rhythms but not melody. Discussion also covers reptiles that can sleep through meals and how dreaming may boost problem solving. Short, curious, and full of quirky science tidbits.
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Rhythm Tracking Present At Birth
- Newborns tracked complex rhythm in Bach but did not track melody in EEG tests.
- Researchers suggest rhythm prediction may be innate because biological rhythms surround infants.
Rhythm Is Ubiquitous In Biology
- Laurel Traynor says rhythm is everywhere in biology, from heartbeats to movement.
- This ubiquity makes rhythm prediction plausibly ancient and present early in life.
Melody Not Observed In This Study
- Melody responses weren't detected in the brain region the study measured.
- The study also only tested Western classical music, so melody might appear under different conditions.