Want to communicate better? Dance

Dancing seems to come more naturally to some than to others. That's clearly demonstrated in our house. I may look ridiculous, but given the right song I can't resist the urge to move, and it always brings me joy. Mr. Patrick feels quite the opposite; like Johnny Depp once said, he'd rather fight a buzzsaw than dance.

I've often thought at least part of that is environmental, as unlike him I grew up in a family and culture in which rhythmic music and dancing were emphasized for every age and gender, a family activity, a basic part of life. That may be, but a new study says there is more to it than that. We movers-to-music may also be able to communicate a wee bit better.

A study reported in the Sept. 18 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience concluded that people who are better able to move to a beat show more consistent brain responses to speech than those with less rhythm. The scientists at Northwestern University studied Chicago-area teenagers, examining the relationship between their relative abilities to coordinate movements with a musical beat, and their brains' responses to sound and speech. The teens tapped their fingers to a metronome, then listened to voice recordings while their brainwaves were measured by an EEG (electroencephalograph) machine.

The more accurate the tapping, the more their brains responded to the speech recordings. This finding not only builds on prior research, it may tie it together by linking the brain's particular communication skills (processing words) with processing sound.

Previous studies showed links between (1) reading ability and beat-keeping ability, and (2) reading ability and the consistency of the brain's response to sound. The lead scientist in this study, Dr. Nina Kraus, told Science Daily that the new findings show that hearing is a common basis for all of these.

The fact that moving to a steady beat requires synchronization between the parts of the brain responsible for hearing and movement is old news in scientific research. Rhythm is present in both music and language, so it seems logical the two are connected.

Consider the cadences - the distinct, almost sing-songy differences - among languages. Japanese sounds very different from Italian; Korean from Urdu, and so on. Each has its own rhythm; some languages have a series of short, almost staccato punches. Others seem to flow and drag in long waves. Music is the same. Detecting these rhythms and coordinating the brain's response - apparently that varies by individual, not just culture and exposure.

Then again, it can also be taught. Just because we have one set or another of predispositions as individuals does not mean that's where it ends. Scientists at the University of California are conducting a multi-year study on the effects of musical training on children's brain function; they expect their findings will bolster previous studies showing links between music and improved mental performances such as reading skills, moods, even intellect.

"Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world." - Voltaire

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at sholeh@cdapress.com.