Species-specific sounds spark surprising animal responses
Scientific, behavioral, and cognitive views
By Alireza Sepahvand
Journalist
Music has been an inseparable part of human experience for centuries, serving as a powerful tool for expressing emotions, facilitating communication, and even providing therapeutic benefits.
Yet an intriguing question continues to captivate researchers: Do animals perceive and respond to music as humans do? If they do, what types of music are meaningful to them, and how do their reactions differ from those of humans?
Over the past decades, scientific studies have sought to answer these questions, yielding valuable insights into auditory perception, emotional responses, and animal behavior. The following explores animals’ reactions to music through behavioral, cognitive, and biological lenses, drawing on examples from carefully conducted scientific experiments.
Biological foundations of sound processing in animals
To understand animals’ reactions to music, one must first consider the structural differences between the human auditory system and that of other creatures. Every species has its own hearing range, different sensitivities to frequencies and rhythms, and unique cognitive capacities that determine how it receives and analyzes sound. For example, dogs hear much higher frequencies than humans, so human-centered music is not always pleasant or understandable for them.
Marine mammals like whales and dolphins have different auditory structures, and much of their communication is based on ultrasound. Songbirds possess a brain structure closer to that of humans, comparable to the human music-processing area.
These biological differences lead to highly diverse reactions to music among species, and a piece of music that is calming or joyful for humans may be annoying or meaningless to another animal.
Music shapes animal mood
Behavioral studies show that animals display reactions to familiar sound patterns. However, their reaction to music greatly depends on the species and the type of music.
Research shows that dogs react more calmly to classical music. In some experiments, reduced barking, lowered bodily tension, and increased resting time were observed while dogs listened to classical music. In contrast, rock or metal music can trigger nervous behavior and restless movements.
Cats respond less to human-centered music than dogs do. But studies on “cat-specific music”, pieces composed based on the frequencies and rhythms similar to natural cat sounds, show that they react more positively to such music. This aligns with the theory that animals respond to sounds that fall within the natural range of their communication.
In agricultural settings, music is sometimes used to improve livestock welfare. Studies show that cows, after a period of listening to calm music, show increased milk production. Pigs react more calmly to gentle music. Chickens also become calmer and less stressed in some conditions when exposed to music. However, these effects are not always constant and may depend on the environment, sound volume, and the animals’ habits.
Some birds, such as finches and budgerigars, have complex vocal abilities, and their songs have structures similar to music. Research shows that the brains of songbirds contain regions that process sound similarly to the human auditory cortex. They can imitate and retain complex rhythmic and melodic patterns.
Some species can detect whether a vocal sequence has been altered, something similar to detecting a “wrong note.” However, it is still unclear whether birds experience music “emotionally” or if their reactions are merely related to learning and imitation patterns.
Chimpanzees, gorillas, and monkeys are genetically close to humans, but their behavior toward music shows that the concept of music may not exist in them as it does in humans. In some studies, they did not show specific reactions to classical, pop, or rock music. Music that resembles their heartbeat or body-movement rhythms attracts more attention. Sometimes regular rhythms can reduce stress, but this effect has not been confirmed in all studies.
These findings suggest that human-like music perception may be a species-specific trait of our kind. Horses are sensitive to sound, and calm music can reduce their stress. Trainers sometimes use music to create relaxation during grooming or training.
Although the auditory structure of fish is very different from that of mammals, they respond to sound vibrations. Music with a steady beat can change the group movement of some fish.
Elephants have the ability to perceive very low frequencies. Documented cases exist in which elephants reacted to sounds from instruments like the piano and even exhibited rhythmic movements. However, it is not definitively known whether these reactions are emotional or merely motor curiosity.
In recent years, music has gained attention as a therapeutic tool for pets and even zoo animals. Its known applications include reducing separation anxiety in dogs, reducing stress during livestock transport or treatment, calming animals in shelters, and improving sleep and reducing aggressive behavior. Many of these results are linked to specific musical features such as gentle rhythm, simple harmony, and frequencies close to the species’ natural hearing range.
Do animals experience music?
One of the most important questions is whether animals’ reactions represent some kind of emotional experience, or if they are simply responses to auditory stimuli.
Opinions on this matter vary. Some scientists believe that aesthetic sense in music is likely unique to humans. Others have found evidence suggesting that animals may experience a kind of emotional state related to music. For example, the heart rate of dogs or cows decreases when listening to calm music, which may indicate emotional changes; but it still cannot be said with certainty that this state is the same as the “musical pleasure” humans experience. In conclusion, animals’ reactions to music are complex and multifaceted, because the most important means of human communication is expression and language, and obtaining and interpreting mental reactions from animal species is very difficult. Nevertheless, studies show that animals are sensitive to sound, and music can affect their behavior and physiology. However, many animals, especially primates, do not experience human music the way we do.
Reactions are usually related to biological features of the species, including hearing range, type of vocal communication, and natural behavioral patterns. Still, music can be an effective tool for reducing stress and improving animal welfare.
Research in this field is ongoing, and as our knowledge of animal brains and cognition grows, we will better understand how and to what extent music can affect their world.