Discovering the rhythm of nature: Guy Amichay discusses NITMB-supported research with Scientific American

Guy Amichay, NITMB Trainee and Research Associate in the Danny Abrams lab at Northwestern University, spoke with Scientific American about recent NITMB-supported research investigating a widespread communication tempo found across species.

The investigation into this shared communication rhythm began while filming the synchronized flashing of the Pteroptyx malaccae fireflies. Amichay and colleagues noticed that the nearby crickets seemed to chirp at the same rhythm the fireflies were flashing.

After surveying animal communication studies and wildlife sound recordings, the researchers found there might be a common rhythm (~0.5–4 Hz) in communication across a wide range of species. Most popular Western music also falls into this same rhythm at 2 Hz.

The source of this shared rhythm across species, the researchers hypothesize, may have a universal basis in the biophysics of the communication receiver’s neurons.