Rhythm grows your brain

In a dynamic programme of workshops and presentations that was both intellectually engaging and highly accessible, Jessica Phillips-Silver — referred to throughout the visit by her preferred form of address, “Dr Jessica” — introduced parents and staff to the significant role of rhythm in child development and human experience.

Dr Jessica’s research focuses on the relationship between rhythm, movement, music, and social cognition, with particular emphasis on how rhythmic interaction shapes learning, communication, emotional connection, and early childhood development. Her interdisciplinary work draws from psychology, neuroscience, music cognition, and education to explore how rhythm influences both brain function and social behaviour.

Throughout the day, Dr Jessica – pictured with SIS Teaching Assistant, Andrea Kent – guided audiences through a range of compelling research findings, demonstrating that rhythm extends far beyond music and is deeply embedded in both human biology and the natural world. One of the central themes of her presentations was that music should not be understood solely as an auditory experience; rather, it engages the entire body and plays a fundamental role in human interaction and development.

Her presentations combined scientific rigour with moments of humour and accessibility. Among the most striking examples was an animated visualisation derived from MRI data, illustrating how musical activity simultaneously stimulates multiple regions of a musician’s brain and how neural networks coordinate the body’s responses to rhythm and sound. In contrast, the well-known example of Snowball the parrot dancing in synchrony to Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust provided an entertaining demonstration that rhythmic responsiveness may reflect broader biological capacities found across species.

Connecting these ideas directly to child development, Dr Jessica described research showing that shared rhythmic experiences between toddlers and adults can strengthen social connection, increasing children’s sense of trust, comfort, and cooperation with unfamiliar adults. She emphasised the importance of auditory and rhythmic interaction in interpreting social relationships and highlighted the educational implications of these findings. Whether through music, movement, or coordinated activity, rhythmic connection can play a powerful role in supporting emotional, social, and cognitive development.

Dr Jessica’s visit brought clarity and immediacy to a complex field of research, offering audiences new perspectives on how rhythm shapes our interactions with one another and with the wider world. Further information about her work can be found on rhythmgrowsyourbrain.com.