In a groundbreaking new study, Ronan the California sea lion, famous for bobbing her head to music, is back—and her sense of rhythm rivals, and even outperforms, that of humans. This incredible marine mammal, trained at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz), is once again pushing the boundaries of animal cognition and rhythm perception.
Can Animals Keep a Beat? Ronan Proves They Can
The field of biomusicality, which explores whether animals can recognize and move to music, has long fascinated scientists. But most believed only vocal-learning animals—like parrots or humans—could keep time. Ronan shattered that belief in 2013 when she showed she could synchronize her head movements to musical beats, even new tempos she hadn’t heard before.
Now, more than a decade later, Ronan has returned for a new study published in Scientific Reports—and this time, her rhythmic precision was tested against humans. The results? Ronan matched or even outperformed human participants in beat synchronization at multiple tempos.
Sea Lion vs. Human: Ronan’s Rhythm Put to the Test
Researchers tested Ronan’s beat-keeping at three tempos: 112, 120, and 128 beats per minute (bpm). While 120 bpm was her most practiced rhythm, she had never encountered the 112 and 128 bpm tempos before.
Despite this, Ronan synchronized to the beat within just 15 milliseconds, which is about a tenth of a human eye blink (typically 150 milliseconds). By comparison, even trained human participants showed more variation in their timing.
“She’s incredibly precise,” said Dr. Peter Cook, lead researcher and comparative neuroscientist. “She’s basically hitting the rhythmic bullseye over and over again.”
Ethical and Voluntary Participation
One of the most impressive aspects of Ronan’s participation is that she performs voluntarily. She signals readiness and can walk away at any time without punishment or food deprivation. This ethical approach reflects the cooperative training philosophy of UC Santa Cruz’s Pinniped Lab, where Ronan has lived since 2010.
A Sea Lion with a Scientific Legacy
Ronan was rescued as a malnourished pup in 2009 and deemed non-releasable after repeated strandings. Since then, she has become a scientific icon in marine mammal cognition. Over 12 years, she’s participated in around 2,000 rhythm sessions—each lasting just 10–15 seconds. That’s less exposure to rhythm than a typical toddler, making her natural beat-keeping abilities even more remarkable.
Her work has already inspired rhythm and music perception studies across species—from parrots and primates to elephants and humans.
Challenging Scientific Theories on Rhythm and Cognition
Previously, scientists believed vocal learning was necessary for rhythmic synchronization. But sea lions don’t mimic sounds like parrots do. Ronan’s ability to move in time to music challenges this theory, opening new possibilities for research into rhythm perception in non-vocal-learning animals.
Some earlier critics suggested Ronan’s performance was less reliable than humans. That skepticism motivated this latest study—where Ronan proved her precision lands her in the 99th percentile of rhythmic accuracy when compared to modeled human performance.
Motivation Matters: Why Ronan Keeps Dancing
“She’s motivated,” says co-researcher Dr. Colleen Reichmuth. “To her, it’s a game she knows how to win—and she likes the fish that come with it.” Ronan enjoys the process, and her improved performance over time suggests that cognitive maturity and consistent experience enhance rhythm-based skills in animals—just like in humans.
Why Can’t Dogs Dance?
A common question that arises: if Ronan can dance to music, why can’t dogs? Dr. Cook suggests it’s not about capability but training. “How many people try to train dogs in a rhythm-specific way?” he asks. With enough precise training, dogs—especially smart breeds like Border Collies—might also learn rhythmic movement.
Ronan’s Contribution to Science
Ronan’s journey from an orphaned pup to a trailblazing subject in animal cognition research is inspiring scientists worldwide. Her participation not only advances our understanding of marine mammal intelligence but also contributes to larger questions about the evolution of rhythm, pattern recognition, and cognitive behavior in animals.
As UC Santa Cruz researchers continue to explore interspecies musicality, Ronan remains at the heart of this exciting frontier in science.
🔬 Study Details
Title: Sensorimotor synchronization to rhythm in an experienced sea lion rivals that of humans
Authors: Peter Cook, Andrew Rouse, Carson Hood
Published In: Scientific Reports (2025)
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-95279-1