English 1102 Warwick
April 27, 2002
How does music affect one's intellect?
Music is said to affect the intellect of humans in several different ways. Specifically, it is said to affect infants more than any other age group. Music can improve learning skills, test taking skills, concentration, heartbeat, and relaxation. Music has been proven to offer several benefits for infants, young children, young adults, as well as for adults.
With all of this in mind, how can one connect music with intellect? Many recent research studies focus on theoretically proving the way in which music improves cognitive thinking. These studies show that early learning experiences determine which neurons will connect with other neurons and …show more content…
Students showed improvements of up to 51 points on the Standardized Achievement Test. Students were also given other tests, including one that involved paper cutting and folding. After listening to a relaxation test and a moment of silence, students' scores increased 8 to 9 points.
The results from the Mozart Effect were quickly published in scientific journals. Although some people disagreed with the results, the article was so appealing that many scientists as well as citizens accepted the Mozart Effect as a "universal truth".
Even though many people agree with the Mozart Effect, there are still those in controversy with the idea. Soon after Rauscher and Shaw completed their project, researchers at the University of Auckland tried to replicate it. They found no results and concluded that the Mozart Effect indeed did not exist. Critics of the Mozart Effect wonder why the world's smartest people are not Mozart specialists. They feel that music may serve several purposes such as coordinating physical labor, keeping an army in step, and providing a powerful means for emotional self-reflection, illumination, and expression; however, the one thing that music cannot overcome is