Music, Stimming, and the Dark Matter that Connects Us All
From the steady beat of a heartbeat to the cosmic vibrations of the planets, rhythm surrounds us—often in ways we don’t consciously recognise. Music, with its ability to resonate deeply within us, has long been theorised as a universal connector. The ancient Greek concept of the Music of the Spheres, proposed by Pythagoras, suggested that the movements of celestial bodies create an imperceptible harmony—a notion that still resonates today as we explore how sound, rhythm, and stimming influence our sensory and emotional experiences.
In this article, I propose that music acts as a kind of dark matter, an invisible force connecting us all. This connection reveals itself in the way our bodies instinctively react to rhythm—whether it’s an autistic person rocking from side to side in response to sensory overload, a crowd at a rock concert head-banging to the beat, or a mother gently rocking side to side while holding her crying baby. These repetitive movements, commonly known as “stimming,” may in fact be natural responses to the sensory and acoustic vibrations around us, similar to how ancient philosophers believed in the cosmic harmony of the spheres.
Stimming as a Response to Musical Input
Stimming, or self-stimulatory behaviour, is a common coping mechanism for autistic individuals, often triggered by sensory overload. However, what if we reframed stimming as an instinctive response to the vibrations and rhythms in the environment? For instance, rocking could be seen not merely as a way to self-regulate, but as a natural reaction to acoustic energy—a bodily response to the sound waves around us, much like tapping a foot to a beat or air-drumming during a song.
Even in everyday situations, this rhythmic response is evident. Consider a mother soothing her crying baby. It’s common to see mothers instinctively rocking from side to side while holding their distressed child. While it’s often assumed this movement calms the baby, it’s also possible that the mother herself is engaging in a form of stimming to regulate her own stress, with the baby responding to her now-calmed energy. What’s more, through this action, the mother is subconsciously teaching the baby how to self-soothe, showing the child a calming rhythmic motion they will later internalise and use to manage their own emotions. This behaviour demonstrates how stimming can be an innate coping mechanism that transcends neurodiversity, guiding even the earliest stages of human development .
Just as many people unconsciously tap their toes to a catchy tune, individuals on the autism spectrum may be responding to environmental stimuli—both musical and non-musical—through rhythmic movements that help them process sensory input. Reinterpreting stimming in this way highlights its connection to the rhythms that pervade everyday life—a subtle dance with the vibrations we encounter, whether or not we are aware of it.
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