Singing is not associated with social complexity across species
- 30 September 2021
- journal article
- editorial
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Behavioral and Brain Sciences
- Vol. 44, e92
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0140525x20001120
Abstract
Based on their social bonding hypothesis, Savage et al. predict a relation between “musical” behaviors and social complexity across species. However, our qualitative comparative review suggests that, although learned contact calls are positively associated with complex social dynamics across species, songs are not. Yet, in contrast to songs, and arguably consistent with their functions, contact calls are not particularly music-like.Keywords
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