Singing to babies is culturally taught
Image credit: bastnic via Unsplash
A new study published in the journal Current Biology suggests that singing lullabies is a learned behavior rather than an innate human trait. Studying the Northern Aché, an Indigenous group in Paraguay, researchers found they do not sing or dance to soothe infants. This challenges the assumption that lullabies and rhythmic movement are universal or instinctive. Instead, the study argues that such behaviors are culturally transmitted, highlighting the importance of social learning in shaping how humans care for and communicate with their young.
Source
Singh, Manvir & Hill, Kim. (2025). Loss of dance and infant-directed song among the Northern Aché. Current Biology. 35. 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.018.
Additional Reading
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/05/10/lullaby-dancing-learned-behavior-anthropology/
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/study-suggests-dance-and-lullabies-arent-universal-human-behaviors