I'm devoting the next few studio classes to the study of rhythm. Have your questions and trouble ready. This quote from Marja-Leena Juntunen may give you a clue where I"m going..
"Within cognitive science, Schiavio and Timmers (2016) maintain that “what seems to matter for music learning, memory, and auditory recognition is the motor engagement that links learners and music, and not complex representational abilities.” Learning music implies a change in the whole brain-body-world system"
We shall have fun!