Why do we move to music?

Learn how rhythm in music have a remarkable effect on our brains, bodies, and social relationships.

When we figure out a rhythm, it pulls us in and makes us want to move – from a subtle foot tap to energetic dancing. In music psychology, this pleasurable urge to move is called groove. The most groove-inducing rhythms hit a sweet spot: they give us a steady beat that we can predict but also add small surprises, like syncopations in swing or funk, that keep us engaged. Groove also brings people together.

Moving in synchrony, such as when dancing, can boost feelings of connection. Funkadelic captured this beautifully back in 1978 with One Nation Under a Groove, pointing to rhythm as a force for social unity and change: “With the groove our only guide, we shall all be moved.”

(AI-illustration: Jan Stupacher/ChatGPT)