Hidden assumptions of integer ratio analyses in bioacoustics and music

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2502.04464
• Publication Date: 2025-02-06
• Authors: Yannick Jadoul; Tommaso Tufarelli; Chloé Coissac; Marco Gamba; Andrea Ravignani
• Keywords: Bioacoustics

Rhythm is ubiquitous in human culture and nature, but hard to capture all its complexity. A key dimension of rhythm, integer ratio categories occur when the relationship between temporal intervals can be expressed as small-integer ratios. Recent work has found most musical cultures some animal species' vocalizations or behavioral displays. But biological systems are noisy, empirically measured rarely form an exact ratio. Here, we mathematically assess whether leading analysis method makes valid statistical assumptions. In particular, (1) make properties empirical ratios explicit, both general for typical use literature; (2) show how choice formula affects probability distribution rhythm ensuing results; (3) guide reader carefully consider assumptions null hypotheses analysis; (4) present a comprehensive methodology statistically test any hypothesis choice. Our observations have implications past future research music cognition behavior: They suggest interpret findings provide tools choose correct work.