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The Drum

Why do human beings find the beat of the drum so intoxicating? No other animal is able to synchronise their whole body to a beat in the way we do. Where does this come from?

Why are human beings compelled to tap their feet or bob their heads to the beat of music?

It seems like a very basic thing to do. But no other animal is able to synchronise their whole body to a beat in the way we do, and very few other animals can even recognise a beat.

Mike Williams goes in search of where exactly in our bodies we feel this beat and what evolutionary purpose the ability to drum and move to the drum beat might have had.

(Image of a man playing drums - credit: Getty)

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18 minutes

Last on

Mon 17 Dec 2012 11:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 14 Dec 2012 19:32GMT
  • Sat 15 Dec 2012 04:32GMT
  • Mon 17 Dec 2012 00:32GMT
  • Mon 17 Dec 2012 11:32GMT

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