Ronan, a 15-year-old California sea lion, continues to impress researchers with her ability to keep a beat, especially to disco classics like “Boogie Wonderland.” Peter Cook, a behavioral neuroscientist from New College of Florida, has spent ten years studying her rhythmic capabilities. Although beat identification is primarily seen in humans, parrots, and some primates, Ronan’s talent challenges the notion that rhythm appreciation is uniquely human.
A former rescue sea lion, Ronan became famous a decade ago for her musical skills and has resided at the University of California, Santa Cruz’s Long Marine Laboratory since age 3. Her ability to dance to a beat, even without being a vocal learner, is particularly intriguing—prior beliefs suggested that only vocal learners could master rhythm.
Recent studies raised questions about whether Ronan’s past performances were flukes or if she had improved over time. To explore this, Cook and his colleagues conducted a new study, published in Scientific Reports, where they tested Ronan’s response to various percussive tempos—112, 120, and 128 beats per minute—some of which she hadn’t encountered before. In a comparative analysis, Ronan outperformed ten college students, demonstrating superior beat-keeping ability. Cook noted that Ronan has improved since her earlier performances, showcasing lifelong learning.
Henkjan Honing, a music cognition researcher at the University of Amsterdam, confirmed Ronan’s status as a leading figure in animal musicality, and there are plans to explore rhythm recognition in other sea lions, with the expectation that Ronan will remain an exceptional performer.
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