Ronan the Sea Lion keeps the beat going for research purposes
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) -- A new study from UC Santa Cruz studied human rhythm-keeping skills and animals, with Ronan the sea lion aiding in research.
The sea lion went viral in 2013. Ronan could nod her head along to not only the beat of the song, but could also change her nods to the tempos.
The new study was published on May 1 in the "Nature" journal, "Scientific Reports," showing Ronan's synchronization was as good, if not better, than humans.
The study shows that Ronan's synchronization was more precise and consistent with every tempo tested, which includes 112 beats per minute, 120, and 128 bpm.
Ronan, now 16, is also aiding in showing how her age and her experience in keeping a rhythm have helped with her cognitive behavior.
"It’s not just a test of rhythmic performance. It reflects her cognitive behavior and her ability to remember and refine it over time," UCSC Penniped Lab's Senior Research Scientist Dr. Collen Reichmuth said in a press release.
