Overview

• Ronan, a rescued California sea lion, has demonstrated beat synchronization accuracy exceeding that of most university students in controlled tests.
• Her precision at tempos of 112, 120, and 128 beats per minute often outperforms human participants, with smaller deviations from the metronome's rhythm.
• Over 12 years and 2,000 rhythm exercises, Ronan's abilities have improved significantly, attributed to her maturity and consistent practice.
• Her 2013 breakthrough challenged the vocal learning theory, showing that rhythmic entrainment is possible in non-vocal learners like sea lions.
• Researchers emphasize that while Ronan's achievements are remarkable, larger studies are needed to determine if her abilities are representative of her species.