Joyce Li Yue
Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, New York University
Dr. Robert Rowe
There is an extensive literature on neuropsychological research on how rhythm can affect our music perception and cognition, specifically in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A marker of ASD is the “impaired ability to read the emotions of others” but with an ability to recognize the emotive and aesthetic qualities of art and music (Levitin, 2006). Our ability to process and perceive rhythm is related to the “feeling of a basic beat if the feeling of meter is to arise” (Meyer, 1956). In addition to this metrical feeling, we also get a reward from a chemical and physical response in our bodies and brains from music listening. This includes increased dopamine levels as well as activity in the parts of the cerebellum that are regulating our emotions (Levitin, 2006). This paper will consider the neuroscientific impact of rhythm on how music is perceived by autistic youth in order to further the understanding of the interrelation of music, emotion, and the mind. There will also be an examination of current and past literature on the effects of rhythm and music cognition, observational studies on autistic children and how they respond to different rhythms over time, as well as how computational modeling can be used to generate complex rhythms that can help children with ASD overcome their limitations.
Joyce is a senior majoring in Piano Performance, with a minor in Chemistry. Her expected graduation is May 2023. Please contact her at jly292@nyu.edu for questions.
