The Mozart Effect

The Mozart Effect
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, a piece that tells of grandeur and playfulness, camaraderie and love. The dueling pianos play in and out of cadences bringing the listener to the time of Mozart; with Victorian gowns, men in wigs and food and games through an evening of gossip, laughter, and flirtatious behaviors. As humans, we are always looking for ways to improve out intelligence, even if for a small period of time. Music genius, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, wrote numerous compositions that somehow triggered temporary spatial-temporal reasoning. In turn, Mozart unlocked the ability to briefly increase memory. Although the Mozart Effect is a controversial issue, the possibility of bettering intelligence not only through Mozart’s music, but also through learning an instrument is a reason to be excited.
Genius was born January 27, 2756 in Salzburg, Austria, and his name was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Wolfgang is referred to one of the most talented and prodigious musical composers of all time. The sole surviving son of Leopold and Maria Mozart, he and his sister, Maria Anna –or ‘Nanner’—were both musically talented. Nanner played the keyboard when she was seven, and three-year-old Wolfgang started to copy her actions, and was soon excelling past her skills. At the age of five, Wolfgang had created his first composition, and started to display outstanding ability on the clavinet and violin. His father, sister, and he travelled around as the “Child Prodigies”, and during one of these excursions young Wolfgang met Johann Christian Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach’s youngest, and musically inclined son. Then, in December of 1769, Wolfgang and his father went to Italy to hear Gregorio Allegri’s, Misère. Immediately after, Wolfgang wrote the entire score from memory, only returning to the performance to correct minor errors. Years later, Wolfgang married Constanze and had six children, only two of which survived – Thomas and Franz Xavier Mozart. In 1784, within a five-week time period, had appeared in twenty-two concerts. After this, his finances began to suffer greatly. In 1790 and 1791, Wolfgang’s mental and physical health began to deteriorate rapidly. He recovered briefly to conduct the Prague premier of The Magic Flute, then fell more ill and was confined to bed. He refused help for he was mentally preoccupied with finishing his last masterpiece, Requiem. With his Requiem unfinished, he died at the age of 35, on December 5, 1791. Genius Died that day, but his music and unfathomable power will forever continue.
The Mozart Effect is a set of results that indicate that listening to the musical compositions of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, referred to as Mozart, may induce a short-term improvement on the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks known as spatial-temporal reasoning. A scientist by the name of Alfred A. Tomatis first came across this phenomenon and said that the differing frequencies help the ear, and promoted healing and development of the brain, or spatial-temporal memory. Later on, another scientist by the name of Rauscher conducted an experiment in which he gave a standardized test of abstract spatial reasoning after they had experienced each of three listening condition. The Mozart Effect works by exciting neurons in the brain, allowing them to send multiple, and new sequences to fire into pre-existing sites in the brain. For a limited time, this part of the brain that controls the spatial-temporal memory is enhanced. Thus increasing memory.
The music of Mozart, a musical prodigy who began composing at 4 years of age, seemed like a good candidate to set about testing the theory. (Forbes)
Researcher Alfred A. Tomatis was part of the first group to come across the musical possibilities in Mozart’s compositions. In 1991 he wrote the book Pourquoi Mozart?. He said the music of Mozart retrained the ear, and believed that listening to his compositions presented different frequencies that helped the ear, and promoted healing and the development of the brain. Tomatis was the first to start recognizing the abilities of Mozart. And he started the topic of The Mozart Effect.
Another study, conducted by Rauscher and his team, proved more useful than Tomatis’ and its results were more widespread. Rauscher’s studies showed that there was a temporary enhancement of the spatial-temporal reasoning. The patterns of sequences that the neurons create help stimulate the brain, increasing the spatial-temporal reasoning. Rauscher tried to make it clear that The Mozart Effect didn’t improve intelligence, just increased the capabilities of certain areas of the brain for a limited time. He believes that “with the suggestion that music training "may enhance the learning of standard school curricula that draw heavily upon spatial-temporal reasoning abilities, such as mathematics and science". This showing that the knowledge of music helps other areas of the world, too. The effects were found only to increase memory for about fifteen minutes.
In another study of the Mozart Effect at the University of California Irvine, a research group studied two groups of college students. Mozart was played as a background for one group, and the control group had silence. The study had found that the group listening to Mozart had a 10 to 15 minute increase in spatial-reasoning. The researchers believe that the music can actually help “build and strengthen the connections among nerve cells in the cerebral cortex” (Humphrey). In a Forbes article, UCI said that “Mozart's "Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major" (K. 448) trills through the room for a few intense minutes. Even for Shaw, who doesn't play an instrument, the sequence of ascending and descending notes in rapid, symmetrical patterns is "amazing””. This shows that even if the Mozart Effect didn’t actually have an effect on the brain, the idea, and sound, and overall feeling you get from hearing the piece is a benefit in itself. These connections are believed to enhance concentration, which can inevitably help in a medical situation.
All this research is good, but what can it be used for? Shaw said that " it works with rats and epileptics in comas…You no longer can say it's just because it feels good. I think the brain's response to this music is like the Rosetta Stone for decoding the neurophysiological structure of the brain." Shaw truly did believe in the effects that Mozart had on the brain. The improvement of health is a possibility of this musical phenomenon. One research group suggested that Mozart’s music organizes the brain, and thus can help Alzheimer’s patients retain some memory. Cunningham found that “in 1994 with a blood clot in his brain that would likely lead to a stroke. He developed his own treatment, combining Tomatis' "toning" with guided imagery and listening to classical music. After three weeks, he claims, the clot shrank and his doctor declared him "out of danger."” Another group tested a group of stroke patients. Compared to patients who were not treated, those who listened to Mozart showed improvement in their ability to walk steadily. They also found a similar result in Parkinson’s patients. It is also proven that Mozart “brightens the mood of stroke patients” (Humphrey), helps with depression and anxious behaviors, and improve the immune systems of children. A study also found “that surgeons performed a basic surgeon-related task better and more efficiently while listening to music” (Lerch). Music helps the mind focus, whether you’re needing the treatment or giving the treatment, it never hurts to let your mind relax to music. Or focus.
Although the results you get from just listening to music is great, playing the music affects your mind greater. Rebecca Green confirms that the “so-called "Mozart Effect" lasts only for a about ten minutes” yet “ piano lessons performed better on tests of abstract reasoning… lased all of one day”. This tells of how music is an influence on the brain and how it functions. If you want the benefits of greater spatial-reasoning, and memory for longer than fifteen minutes, learning how to play an instrument can have a long-term benefit. Another study by the University of California, Irvine was held where they studied 237 second graders, and a test on fractions showed that those students who had musical instruction scored 27% higher than those who lacked instruction. And that based on the College Entrance Examination Board “the SAT scores of college-bound high school seniors… musicians scored 57 points higher on the test’s verbal section and 41 points higher in math (Harrar). In many situations people are led to believe that music helps heighten academic abilities. In an article in Forbes Magazine, the author states that “crossover talent is evident in such people as Einstein (who played violin) and Saint-Saens (who dabbled in mathematics). The musical scale is close to a neat logarithmic progression of frequencies”. Neurologist Gottfried Schlaug of Harvard School is conducting a long-term study that is tracking the brains and intellectual development of children as they learn to play musical instruments (Bower). The confidence, and commitment required for learning how to play a musical instrument help focus and activate the mind.
Although many believe in some aspect of the Mozart Effect, many are still hesitant on the idea. The main reasons that there are issues against this topic is because people don’t understand how the music can effect the brain, and are skeptical on the research, thinking it be biased. Many people think that the idea of the Mozart Effect is just that, an idea. They think that people just go along with it because it’s the popular thing to do. One could say that everyone who believed in it’s effects were jumping on the ‘bandwagon’. The original English Lodge claimed “we are resolved against” (Mellers). This meaning that they, as a group of people, were against such an idea. Dave Cunningham also disbelieves the "Mozart Makes You Smarter" gimmick has renewed study into the age-old question of whether there are natural musical forms, such as the diatonic scale on which Mozart and all other western music was once based, or whether tonality is an acquired taste”. This shows that not all people are open to the idea that their brain is easily influenced by outside forces. In conclusion, at this controversial issue, the possibility of bettering intelligence not only through Mozart’s music, but also through learning an instrument, is an idea that people should not take for granted. From the birth of a genius, to the idea, development and research of the Mozart Effect and to the opinions against it, Mozart and his unknown talents will forever have impacts on the lives of those who come in contact. The Mozart Effect is a useful tool in increasing memory for a period of time, though other musical resources are better choices for a long-term goal. Tomatis first expanded the idea of Mozart’s music affecting the status of the brain, then the team of researchers at University of California Irvine who ran numerous tests trying to discount non-believers. And also the fact that learning an instrument increases, and helps solidify the effects that Mozart’s music would have had. Music is a fuel for any mind, whether you’re fighting Alzheimer’s, or you’re Albert Einstein, Mozart is good for the brain. Einstein both listened and played works from Mozart. He said it “helped to disentangle his brain”. While in one of his brain-organizing-violin-playing sessions, he actually discovered the formula for E=MC^2. He felt that his science and Mozart’s music was born of the same source. (skeptic.com) Genius is found in everything we do, see, feel, smell, or hear. Genius lives through today.