Comments on: The Mozart Effect: Is it Real? http://brainblogger.com/2006/03/28/roundtable-the-mozart-effect-is-it-real/ Topics from multidimensional biopsychosocial perspectives. Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:27:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Developing Intelligence http://brainblogger.com/2006/03/28/roundtable-the-mozart-effect-is-it-real/#comment-296 Developing Intelligence Sun, 23 Jul 2006 17:06:42 +0000 http://blog.gnif.org/?p=486#comment-296 As I <a href="http://develintel.blogspot.com/2006/01/neural-oscillations-and-mozart-effect.html" rel="nofollow">wrote a few months ago</a>, in some ways the benefits of music on cognition are not as controversial as this discussion makes it seem. For example, six-year-old children who are given keyboard or voice lessons have shown a reliable 2 to 3 point increase in IQ scores compared to control groups who received other types of artistic lessons. Pre-schoolers with two years of music lessons scored better on spatial reasoning tests than those who took computer lessons for the same time. And as has been noted, as little as 10 minutes of exposure to Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major resulted in a temporary enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning on the Stanford-Binet IQ test. Mozart has also been shown to allow some with Alzheimer's disease to function more normally, to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures, and even to lessen the need for sedatives in surgery relative to no music or white noise Some hold that the effect of such music is only to elevate arousal and mood, which then results in improved performance and well-being in a variety of situations. But if true, the Mozart effect is one of the few examples of an extremely rare phenomenon known as 'far transfer,' in which experience with one domain (music) can transfer benefits to a completely distinct domain (spatial reasoning). As I wrote a few months ago, in some ways the benefits of music on cognition are not as controversial as this discussion makes it seem. For example, six-year-old children who are given keyboard or voice lessons have shown a reliable 2 to 3 point increase in IQ scores compared to control groups who received other types of artistic lessons. Pre-schoolers with two years of music lessons scored better on spatial reasoning tests than those who took computer lessons for the same time. And as has been noted, as little as 10 minutes of exposure to Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major resulted in a temporary enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning on the Stanford-Binet IQ test. Mozart has also been shown to allow some with Alzheimer’s disease to function more normally, to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures, and even to lessen the need for sedatives in surgery relative to no music or white noise

Some hold that the effect of such music is only to elevate arousal and mood, which then results in improved performance and well-being in a variety of situations. But if true, the Mozart effect is one of the few examples of an extremely rare phenomenon known as ‘far transfer,’ in which experience with one domain (music) can transfer benefits to a completely distinct domain (spatial reasoning).

]]> By: The neurophilosopher’s blog » Blog Archive » The Synapse No. 3 http://brainblogger.com/2006/03/28/roundtable-the-mozart-effect-is-it-real/#comment-294 The neurophilosopher’s blog » Blog Archive » The Synapse No. 3 Sun, 23 Jul 2006 12:04:09 +0000 http://blog.gnif.org/?p=486#comment-294 [...] From the GNIF BrainBloggers Shaheen and Tony, we have a description of the state of yogic ”paradoxical wakefulness“ and a discussion of the Mozart effect. [...] [...] From the GNIF BrainBloggers Shaheen and Tony, we have a description of the state of yogic ”paradoxical wakefulness“ and a discussion of the Mozart effect. [...]

]]> By: Anonymous http://brainblogger.com/2006/03/28/roundtable-the-mozart-effect-is-it-real/#comment-93 Anonymous Thu, 06 Apr 2006 04:31:00 +0000 http://blog.gnif.org/?p=486#comment-93 Glanced at the book, bought it as it contained many references to Parkinsons Disease (my friend has had PD for many years). Harp music helps relieve the tremors caused by the meds he takes. It doesn't work every time but when it does it is amazing!!! Glanced at the book, bought it as it contained many references to Parkinsons Disease (my friend has had PD for many years). Harp music helps relieve the tremors caused by the meds he takes. It doesn’t work every time but when it does it is amazing!!!

]]> By: J. Stephen Higgins http://brainblogger.com/2006/03/28/roundtable-the-mozart-effect-is-it-real/#comment-92 J. Stephen Higgins Wed, 05 Apr 2006 15:21:00 +0000 http://blog.gnif.org/?p=486#comment-92 The mozart effect is mostly crap - the original researchers haven't been very successful in replicating their results. This has been a notorious time hole for beginning graduate students looking for an effect. The mozart effect is mostly crap - the original researchers haven’t been very successful in replicating their results. This has been a notorious time hole for beginning graduate students looking for an effect.

]]> By: NeuroGuy http://brainblogger.com/2006/03/28/roundtable-the-mozart-effect-is-it-real/#comment-91 NeuroGuy Wed, 29 Mar 2006 15:17:00 +0000 http://blog.gnif.org/?p=486#comment-91 I doubt if listening to Mozart will make you smarter, but it's not a big leap to assume that very specific kinds of brain functions could be enhanced by some kinds of music. Correlation between music and math has been noted in individuals who were prodigies in both. I doubt if listening to Mozart will make you smarter, but it’s not a big leap to assume that very specific kinds of brain functions could be enhanced by some kinds of music. Correlation between music and math has been noted in individuals who were prodigies in both.

]]> By: Anonymous http://brainblogger.com/2006/03/28/roundtable-the-mozart-effect-is-it-real/#comment-90 Anonymous Wed, 29 Mar 2006 02:48:00 +0000 http://blog.gnif.org/?p=486#comment-90 There does seem to be an effect at work.I know my daughter likes both Mozart and a CD called Music for Infants that has some very calming classical music. Most of the parents I know think in terms of "calming effect" rather than "Mozart effect"As far as making children smarter, that is a loaded question. Perhaps classical music creates the environment that fosters greater imprinting dexterity. There does seem to be an effect at work.I know my daughter likes both Mozart and a CD called Music for Infants that has some very calming classical music. Most of the parents I know think in terms of “calming effect” rather than “Mozart effect”As far as making children smarter, that is a loaded question. Perhaps classical music creates the environment that fosters greater imprinting dexterity.

]]> By: Kevin http://brainblogger.com/2006/03/28/roundtable-the-mozart-effect-is-it-real/#comment-89 Kevin Tue, 28 Mar 2006 18:51:00 +0000 http://blog.gnif.org/?p=486#comment-89 I recently posted a link to an article in Current Directions in Psychological Science re: the Mozart Effect. It can be viewed at: http://tinyurl.com/owrv2 Kevin McGrew www.intelligencetesting.blogspot.com I recently posted a link to an article in Current Directions in Psychological Science re: the Mozart Effect. It can be viewed at:

http://tinyurl.com/owrv2

Kevin McGrew
http://www.intelligencetesting.blogspot.com

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