Bayesian probability

Internal medicine

Prior probability

Mathematics

Musical

Evolutionary biology

Biology

Literature

Statistics

Mathematical analysis

Rhythm

Iterated function

Ecology

Programming language

Computer science

Integer (computer science)

Reproduction

Medicine

Current Biology

Jacoby and McDermott introduce a method to estimate priors on rhythm in human listeners. Both US participants and members of an Amazonian society exhibited priors that give high probability to rhythms whose time intervals form integer ratios. However, the priors otherwise differed across cultures, suggesting strong influences of musical experience.

Integer Ratio Priors on Musical Rhythm Revealed Cross-culturally by Iterated Reproduction