A study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences discovered that passive rhythmic movements like rocking or swinging can change the emotional state of domestic chicks, eliciting both calming and rewarding reactions. The study, conducted by experts from the Universities of Trieste and Udine, looks into the impact of rhythmic movement on non-mammalian species. Slow rhythmic passive movement in mammals has long been recognized as a crucial component of parental care because it reduces crying, lowers heart rate, and promotes rest. In humans, anecdotal evidence suggests that quicker rhythmic motions in newborns and young children, such as playful tossing, swinging, or roller coaster rides, might evoke joy and excitement. The research team observed domestic chicks while they were rocked to determine whether these effects are also present beyond mammals and to understand when movement shifts from a predominantly calming function to a potentially pleasurable one. A novel approach to the study of this phenomenon is the use of chicks, as these animals are capable of walking immediately after hatching and are not borne by their mothers, unlike mammalian chicks. Individual chicks were placed inside an opaque box connected to a precision robotic arm programmed to induce rocking and carrying-like oscillations of changing frequency (slow or fast) and direction (horizontal or vertical). The animals' emotional states were tracked non-invasively by recording their vocalizations. The findings demonstrate that slow rocking and carrying-like movements reduce so-called "contact calls", which are vocalizations related with distress, isolation, or separation. This conclusion is consistent with the soothing benefits of maternal bearing that have previously been described in mammals. A particularly interesting conclusion, however, is the idea that certain types of rhythmic movement also produce a favorable response. Chicks exposed to rapid horizontal rocking or quick carrying-like movements released considerably more affiliative vocalizations, known as brood cries, which are generally produced in safe and socially supportive environments and are considered markers of a pleasant condition. Taken together, the findings suggest that the calming benefits of carrying and rocking reported in mammals may stem from animals' general sensitivity to rhythm and movement.