Conversely, students with left hemisphere orientation reported greater appreciation when writing a verbal description of the music that was played. Rhythm Rhythm is the structural support of a musical composition. It dictates the perceived motion of the piece through note lengths and accents. Tempo is related to rhythm and refers to the pacing of the music and its internal rhythmic structure. Tempo is linked to pulse which is the steady level of rhythm that can be felt throughout the piece.
Pulse is thought to have a biological as well as musical basis.
Many systems within our bodies are based on rhythm, for instance, the cardio-vascular system, the glandular system, and the nervous system. Aside from this physiological theory, different theories have been proposed to explain how people respond to rhythm. According to this theory, our perception of rhythm is based on our responses to our own sequential voluntary muscular activity. One example of our voluntary muscular responses to music is our natural tendency to tap our feet or hands to the beat of a song. A study by Ruckmick found that muscle movements are an essential part of the rhythmic response.