Rhythm abstraction in bumble bees remains inconclusive

Open Access
Authors
  • Zhi-Yuan Ning
  • Carel ten Cate
  • Aniruddh D. Patel
  • H. Honing ORCID logo
Publication date 15-05-2026
Edition v1
Number of pages 3
Publisher PsyArXiv
Organisations
  • Interfacultary Research - Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC)
Abstract Zeng et al. (2026, Science) report an intriguing study of rhythmic pattern discrimination in bumble bees. We applaud their effort to extend the study of abstract, flexible rhythm perception as a foundational property for human music, dance and language beyond the few mammal and bird species studied so far. However, while we appreciate their findings regarding the sensory plasticity of Bombus terrestris, we suggest that the claim that ‘bumble bees … form robust abstract rhythm representations’ may be premature.
Document type Preprint
Note Version v2 (2026) also available on PsyArXiv
Language English
Published at
https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/M7rph_v3 (Final published version)
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