The Hedonics of Rhythm: A Four-factor Model of Rhythmic Pleasure
What makes rhythm so pleasurable? Without precluding other possible sources, four mechanisms are proposed and discussed: (1) the prediction effect, (2) vestibular stimulation, (3) social entrainment, and (4) animacy cues. The prediction effect arises from limbic rewards for accurate prediction (Mandler, 1975; Huron, 2006). This effect is evident in the influence of drum fills in enhancing the pleasure of downbeat moments. Unlike human babies, most animals do not enjoy being bounced. Phillips-Silver and Trainor (2008) observed the intense pleasure associated with bouncing, and isolated the role of vestibular stimulation in rhythmic perception (see also Todd & Cody, 2000). However, it is Riggle’s (unpublished) theory of bipedalism that provides a plausible account for the hedonic aspects of bouncing in homo sapiens. Movement is often synchronized with other moving people. It is plausible that coordinated social movement causes an oxytocin release associated with the pleasure of social bonding (Moberg, 2003). Finally, visual animacy cues are known to contribute to limbic activation (Wheatley, Milleville & Martin, 2007). In audition, timing (especially rubato) appears to play a parallel role in the perception of animacy.