Yi Du and colleagues from the Chinese Academy of Sciences published an article in the open access journal PLOS Biology detailing their findings about a new way our bodies naturally respond to music. Given a steady beat, our eyes blink in synchrony.

The neurological process that helps us move with the music is known as auditory-motor synchronization. This describes the way you tap your foot along with the radio or bob your head at a concert, or why some runners listen to songs with a specific number of beats per minute to keep pace. However, this new study found that we don’t just respond to music with these gestures, we can choose to start or stop. Some of our most involuntary movements are affected as well.

In over 100 participants, the researchers measured spontaneous blinks, the ones our eyes do without us usually even noticing. The researchers treated the participants to Western classical music, selecting songs that provided an even tempo. Not only did the participants’ blinks begin to sync up with the music, but their brainwaves also aligned.