Origins of music in credible signaling

Music comprises a diverse category of cognitive phenomena that likely represent both the effects of psychological adaptations that are specific to music (e.g., rhythmic entrainment) and the effects of adaptations for non-musical functions (e.g., auditory scene analysis). Howdidmusic evolve? Here, we showthat prevailing views on the evolution of music - that music is a byproduct of other evolved faculties, evolved for social bonding, or evolved to signal mate quality - are incomplete or wrong. We argue instead that music evolved as a credible signal in at least two contexts: coalitional interactions and infant care. Specifically, we propose that (1) the production and reception of coordinated, entrained rhythmic displays is a coevolved system for credibly signaling coalition strength, size, and coordination ability; and (2) the production and reception of infant-directed song is a co-evolved system for credibly signaling parental attention to secondarily altricial infants. These proposals, supported by interdisciplinary evidence, suggest that basic features ofmusic, such asmelodyand rhythm, result fromadaptations in the proper domain of humanmusic. The adaptations provide a foundation for the cultural evolution ofmusic in its actual domain, yielding the diversity of musical forms and musical behaviors found worldwide.

Automated summary

The evolution of music may have been driven by the need for credible signaling in coalition interactions and infant care, rather than just being a byproduct of other evolved faculties or for social bonding. These adaptations provide a foundation for the cultural evolution of music in its actual domain.