Origins of human music, combined with the daring behavior of our ancestors

Our primate ancestors may have become “proto-musical” to promote their ability to make death-defying leaps from tree to tree.

Why people make and appreciate music is an evolutionary puzzle. “Music is an extremely important part of our lives and often involves strong emotions,” says Edward Hagen of Washington State University. But he says we still don’t fully understand why we are so concerned.

David Schruth of the University of Washington and his colleagues have a new statement. They say the roots of human music can be traced …