Ecology of consumption. Educational: The rhythms, melodies and high frequencies of Mozart's music stimulate and engage the creative and motivational areas of the brain...
The most extraordinary music is Mozart's: neither fast nor slow, smooth but not boring, and charming in its simplicity. This musical phenomenon, which has not yet been fully explained, is called the “Mozart effect.”
Popular actor Gerard Depardieu experienced it to the fullest. The fact is that young Zhezhe, who came to conquer Paris, spoke poor French and also stuttered. The famous doctor Alfred Tomatis advised Gerard to listen to Mozart for at least two hours every day! "The Magic Flute" can indeed work miracles - a few months later Depardieu spoke as he sang.
The uniqueness and extraordinary power of Mozart's music is most likely due to his life, especially the circumstances that accompanied his birth. Mozart was conceived in a rare environment. His prenatal existence was a daily immersion in the world of music. My father’s violin sounded in the house, which, of course, had a tremendous influence on the development of nervous system and the awakening of cosmic rhythms in the womb. The musician's father was a bandmaster, that is, a conductor of choral and musical chapels in Salzburg, and his mother, the daughter of a musician, played a huge role in his musical development. She sang songs and serenades even during her pregnancy. Mozart was born literally molded from music.
The power of Mozart's music first came to public attention through pioneering research at the University of California in the early 1990s. At the Irvine Neuroscience Center, which studies learning and memory, a team of researchers began studying the effects of Mozart's music on students and adolescents.
Frances X. Rauscher, Ph.D., and her colleagues conducted a study in which thirty-six university psychology graduates were tested on the spatial intelligence index (standardized Stanford-daBinet intelligence scale). The result was 8-9 points higher for subjects who listened to Mozart's Sonata for two pianos in D major for ten minutes. Although the effects of listening to music lasted only ten to fifteen minutes, Dr. Rauscher's group concluded that the relationship between music and spatial thinking is so strong that even just listening to music can have a significant effect.
Mozart's music can "warm up the brain," suggested Gordon Shaw, a theoretical physicist and one of the researchers, after the results were announced. - We assume that complex music excites equally complex neural patterns that are associated with higher forms mental activities such as mathematics and. Conversely, simple and monotonous intrusive music can have the opposite effect.
The day after the Irvine discoveries were reported, music stores one large city All recordings of Mozart's works instantly sold out.
Although later interest in the “Mozart effect” waned a little, as several skeptics published their doubts about the phenomenon. But upon closer examination it turned out that classical music really has a strong effect on the human brain.
All experiments studying the phenomenon are based on the assumption that music affects the brain at the anatomical level, making it more mobile. And for children it can mean formation neural networks, have a strong impact on the mental development of the child.
Numerous opponents, trying to experimentally prove that there is no “Mozart effect”, regularly come to the conclusion that their judgments are erroneous.Recently, another skeptic changed his mind about Mozart's music. Eric Seigel of Elmhurst College in Illinois used a spatial reasoning test to do this. Subjects had to look at two letters E, one of which was rotated at an angle relative to the other. And what larger angle, the more difficult it was to determine whether the letters were the same or different. The milliseconds it took the subject to compare the letters were the measure that determined the subject's level of spatial thinking. To Seigel's surprise, those subjects who listened to Mozart before the test identified the letters much more accurately.
At Harvard University, another skeptic, psychologist Christopher Chabris, analyzed 16 studies of the “Mozart effect,” involving a total of 714 people. He did not find any beneficial effect of the music of the great composer and so far came to the conclusion that the subjects were experiencing a phenomenon that psychologists call “joyful excitement.” Music improves mood, and test subjects improve test results. But Chabri decided to continue a series of experiments to study the phenomenon, so it is quite possible that the camp of supporters of the “Mozart effect” will soon be replenished with another serious scientist.
The researchers concluded that regardless of listeners' tastes or previous experiences, Mozart's music consistently had a calming effect on them, improving spatial awareness and the ability to express themselves more clearly and clearly in communication. There is no doubt that the rhythms, melodies and high frequencies of Mozart's music stimulate and engage the creative and motivational areas of the brain. published
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The Mozart effect showed the harmonizing influence of classical music on humans. The beneficial effects of classical music on humans have been known for a long time. Pregnant women are even advised to listen to such music so that the baby develops well and can reveal his talents.
In the 90s of the 20th century, amazing information appeared about the unique impact of Mozart’s music on the human brain. The unusual influence was called the Mozart effect. Scientists are still arguing about the nature of this phenomenon. However, convincing facts have been collected confirming the power of classical music.
Activation of the cerebral cortex
The first experiments in this direction were carried out on rats. For two months they were given 12 hours a day to listen to one music – Mozart’s sonata in C major. As a result, the rats “got wiser” and began to run the maze 27% faster. They made 37% fewer mistakes than normal rats.
As for people, here scientists studied brain activity using magnetic resonance. Research has shown that any music affects the human brain. That is, it excites the area that is the auditory center. In some cases, areas of the brain associated with emotions were also stimulated. But only listening to Mozart’s music activated almost the ENTIRE CORTEX. As scientists figuratively put it, almost the entire cerebral cortex began to glow.
Research on the effects of music on the human brain
The power of Mozart's music on the brain has been scientifically proven in two directions: the frequency of rhythm changes and the actual frequency of sound.
The first is due to the fact that our brain has cycles in its work. The nervous system, in particular, has a rhythm of 20-30 seconds. Scientists have suggested that resonance in the cerebral cortex can be caused by sound waves that vibrate at the same frequency. For the same reason, the issue of changing the sound frequency of musical instruments from 432 Hz to 440 in the middle of the last century is relevant. (Read article about)
The University of Illinois analyzed the frequency characteristics of the music of almost 60 different composers to determine how often waves of 20-30 seconds in length occur in the work. When all the data was combined into one table, it turned out that the authors of primitive pop music were at the very bottom, but Mozart took first place from the top.
It is in his music, with its unique nuances, tints and flow of sounds, that 30-second waves are repeated more often than in any other music. Those. This music maintains the treasured 30-second “quiet-loud” rhythm, which corresponds to the biorhythms of our brain.
On the other hand, it has been proven that high-frequency sounds (3,000 - 8,000 Hz) receive the greatest resonance in the cerebral cortex. And Mozart's works are literally saturated with high-frequency sounds.
Music increases human intelligence
Activating the cerebral cortex is not easy scientific miracle. This is an objective process that stimulates thought processes and improves memory. Increased brain activity significantly increases a person's intellectual level.
American scientists have shown that if you listen to Mozart's music for just 10 minutes, your IQ will increase by almost 8-10 units. So, at the University of California, one interesting experiment was conducted on the effect of music on students passing a test. 3 control groups were selected:
Group 1 – students sat in complete silence;
Group 2 – students listened to an audiobook;
Group 3 – students listened to a Mozart sonata.
All students took a test before and after the experiment. As a result, students improved their results as follows:
Group 1 – by 14%;
Group 2 – by 11%;
Group 3 – by 62%.
Agree, impressive results?!
The amazing Mozart effect in action
European scientists have proven that under the influence of the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, mental abilities increase, regardless of how they treat it (like it or not). Even after 5 minutes of listening, people noticeably increase their concentration and focus.
This music has a particularly strong effect on children. Children develop their intelligence much faster. In the USA, children were monitored for 5 years. Those children who attended music lessons for 2 years in a row showed significant development in spatial thinking.
In adults, the effect of exposure has significant inertia. For some people, brain activity disappeared with the last sounds. For others, the effect lasted longer, but then the brain returned to its original state.
A striking example of the impact of the Mozart effect
High-pitched sounds are known to strengthen the microscopic muscles of the middle ear, which leads to improved hearing and speech. This example is one of the most striking cases of the influence of the Mozart effect on humans.
Probably, few people know that the world famous actor Gerard Depardieu had a severe defect in the 60s: he stuttered and had a poor memory. Fortunately, a doctor came into his life who determined that young Gerard had serious problems with the middle ear. He prescribed him... several months of daily listening to 2 hours of Mozart's music. The result was stunning, and we know this from the films with the actor’s participation.
Gerard Depardieu completely got rid of his stuttering, improved his memory, which allowed him to become one of the most famous actors in the world. Later he will say:
“Before meeting Tomatis, I could not complete a single sentence. He helped complete my thoughts, taught me synthesis and understanding of the thinking process itself.”
Practical application of the Mozart effect in life
They tell of a case when the music of Amadeus Mozart literally brought a person back to life. 78-year-old seriously ill Marshal Richelieu Louis Francois Armand du Plessis was already dying. A few minutes before his apparent death, he asked for his last wish in this life to be granted. The Marshal asked to be played his favorite Mozart concerto.
Soon after the last notes sounded, a true miracle happened to the marshal! Death receded, and Richelieu began to recover amazingly quickly. Thanks to Mozart's music, the dying marshal regained his vitality and lived actively for another 14 years. Marshal Richelieu Louis François Armand du Plessis died at the ripe old age of 92.
In Canada, at the state level, works by Mozart are played in city squares to reduce the number of accidents. Unfortunately, in our time, classical music has been relegated to the margins of radio and television broadcasts. Moreover, you will not hear classical music on the streets of Russia. But what prevents us from arranging for ourselves at least short sessions of the amazing music of Mozart and other classics.
Listen to Mozart's music used in tests
Imagine a situation that would seem absolutely incredible for Russia. You came to see a therapist about, say, vegetative-vascular dystonia. After conducting all the necessary examinations, the doctor gives you a prescription. Looking...
Imagine a situation that would seem absolutely incredible for Russia. You came to see a therapist about, say, vegetative-vascular dystonia. After conducting all the necessary examinations, the doctor gives you a prescription. Looking at him, you are dumbfounded and look at the doctor. “Mozart,” you mutter. “Mozart,” the doctor confirms. Actually, the recipe says: “Mozart. 2 times a day for 1 hour”...
This is some kind of nonsense,” you say. Nothing like this. From time immemorial, music has been valued by wise doctors as a healing agent. In China, for example, you can find it in pharmacies music albums– records or cassettes – with the names “Digestion”, “Insomnia”, “Liver”, “Kidneys”... About the same thing exists in Japan and India. However, the amazing healing effect of Mozart’s music was discovered recently and has not yet been fully explained.
So far, one thing is clear: the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is significantly superior to all others in its healing power musical works. Listen to one of amazing stories from the life of the famous French actor Gerard Depardieu, which at one time made the rounds of many Western publications.
Stutterer Depardieu
Fans of the great French actor, of course, noticed the amazing vibrations of his voice. However, it is known that in the mid-60s Gerard was an absolutely tongue-tied young man who, due to his stuttering, was also unable to complete a single sentence.
Those who study the actor’s work explain the situation with family troubles, personal failures, low self-esteem and problems with getting an education. The only thing that undoubtedly distinguished Depardieu at that time was his passionate desire to become an actor.
Depardieu's acting mentor sent Gerard to Paris to see a very famous doctor Alfred Tomatis, a doctor of medical sciences, who devoted many years to studying the healing effect of music and especially the works of Mozart.
Tomatis determined that the cause of Depardieu’s vocal breakdowns and memory problems lay deeper than his purely physiological difficulties - in the emotional sphere, and promised to help him.
Depardieu asked what the treatment would include: surgery, medications or psychotherapy. Tomatis replied: “I want you to come to my hospital every day for two hours for several weeks and listen to Mozart.”
“Mozart,” asked the puzzled Depardieu. “Mozart,” confirmed Tomatis.
The very next day, Depardieu came to the Tomatis center to put on headphones and listen to the music of the great composer. After several “musical procedures” he felt a significant improvement in his condition. His appetite and sleep improved, and he felt a surge of energy.
Soon his speech acquired greater clarity. A few months later, Depardieu returned to acting school with new self-confidence and, upon graduating, became one of the actors who expressed his generation.
“Before Tomatis,” Depardieu recalls, “I could not finish a single sentence. He helped complete my thoughts, taught me synthesis and understanding of the thinking process itself.”
Practice again and again convinced Tomatis that, whatever the personal tastes and attitudes towards the composer of each particular listener, Mozart's music invariably calmed the patient, improved his spatial awareness and allowed him to express himself more clearly.
Why does music heal?
First, let's answer the question: what is sound? Of course, vibration. Michio and Aveline Cusi also spoke about the importance of vibrations in their famous lectures on macrobiotics, given in Paris in 1978. In particular, the spouses pointed to the cleansing abilities of the vibrations that arise when singing the combination “AU-M”.
“Sing this 5, 6, 7 times in a row with a long exhalation, several times a day. This vibration not only cleanses, but also establishes harmony between all your internal organs. Then chant the syllable “La…” in the same way. It establishes harmony between you and the world around you…”.
In 1978, such statements by the spouses seemed like bullshit to most. However, today views have changed dramatically. Much of the credit here goes to the Swiss physician and engineer Hans Jenny, who explained and showed how sounds can affect objects.
He conducted experiments with crystals, liquid gases with the participation of electrical impulses and vibrations and discovered that it was sound vibrations that created incomplete, constantly changing geometric figures.
It is not difficult to imagine how noticeable the effect of sound is on the cells, organs and tissues of a living organism. The vibration of sounds creates energy fields that produce resonance and movement in the surrounding space. We absorb energy, and it changes our breathing rhythm, heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, skin temperature, and so on.
Jenny's discoveries help us understand how music changes our mood, state and even the shape of our organs. The work of Lindy Rogers, a musician and sociologist from New York, has shown that the vibration generated by music can have both a beneficial effect on the patient and a negative one if it is not chosen correctly.
Having studied, for example, the ability to perceive music in patients under anesthesia during surgery, she concluded: “We never stop hearing.”
Why Mozart?
But why Mozart? Why not Bach, not Beethoven, not the Beatles? Mozart did not create the stunning effects that Bach's mathematical genius was capable of. His music does not stir up waves of emotion like Beethoven's works.
It does not relax the body like folk melodies and does not move it under the influence of the music of rock stars. So what's the matter then? Probably because Mozart remains both mysterious and accessible. His intelligence, charm and simplicity make us wiser.
For many, Mozart's music helps them find peace of mind. If it restores energy balance and harmony in the body, then it performs the function that all medical systems strive for.
Acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietetics and other methods are aimed specifically at restoring energy balance, which we call health.
Mozart's music, not too smooth, not too fast, not too quiet, not too loud - for some reason, "just right."
Musical rhythms are known to influence the rhythms of the nervous system, which regulate the vast biological landscape within our bodies. It is not difficult to understand, therefore, how important the simplicity and clarity of Mozart’s music is for our emotions and for the whole organism as a whole. One can compare the effect of the music of various composers to the effect of various dishes, which also affect our energy and physiology and can be both beneficial and harmful.
By the way, we note that delicacies are not always the most healthy dishes. Sometimes simpler food suits us much better as a daily food. The same is true with music. Its diversity gives us a wealth of sensations, but only certain forms organize and stabilize our feelings.
Tomatis is convinced that Mozart's music has no equal in its ability to bring harmony to human soul. He uses Mozart because his works purify better than any other music. In the case of Depardieu, exactly the set of vibrations that his body needed most was chosen.
According to Tomatis, Mozart's works represent a perfectly balanced musical “dish” containing all the necessary components.
Curious facts
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a child with a prophetic gift, who wrote operas, symphonies, concertos and sonatas for piano, music for organ, clarinet and other instruments before he was twelve years old, and who seemed to know that he was destined to die young, left the world the most amazing and harmonious musical vibrations, whose healing power has yet to be appreciated by us and our descendants.
Curious facts
...The monks from the Brittany monastery discovered that cows, receiving Mozart's music along with their feed, gave more milk.
...In Canada, Mozart's string quartets are performed directly in city venues to regulate street traffic. A “side” effect was also discovered: as a result, drug consumption decreased.
…An interesting detail was noticed by the Japanese: when Mozart’s works are played near yeast, their presence produces the best sake vodka. The productivity of yeast used to make traditional rice vodka increased 10 times if the yeast “listened” to Mozart.
The power of Mozart's music came into the spotlight mainly as a result of pioneering research at the University of California in the mid-1990s. Then a number of scientists studied the influence of Mozart’s works on the mental potential of students and increasing their ability to assimilate program material.
“Mozart’s music can ‘warm up’ the brain,” says one of the researchers. He believes that Mozart's music has an undeniable impact positive influence on the processes of higher brain activity required for mathematics and chess.
Romantic music
Emphasizes expression and feeling, often includes themes of individualism and mysticism, helps to evoke sympathy, empathy, and love. Examples of Romantic composers include Schubert, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Chopin and Liszt.
Jazz, blues, Dixieland, reggae
These forms of music and dance can be uplifting and inspiring, helping to defuse deep-seated feelings. They bring wit and irony and promote a sense of human unity.
Rock music
Artists like Elvis Presley Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, can awaken passion, stimulate active movement, reduce tension, mask pain. However, if a person is not in the mood to listen to such sounds, then tension, dissonance, stress and even pain may arise.
Religious and sacred music
It gives us a feeling of peace and spiritual enlightenment. It also helps overcome and relieve pain.
Music, in addition to its initial, applied functions, skillfully performs artistic tasks: reflects experiences different heights, captivates, fills us with inspiration and gives us a captivating experience. But can simply listening to it help improve brain function? Let's together understand the essence of the so-called Mozart effect, study the influence of music on the development of intelligence and find out which musical instrument to choose if you want to learn to play.
Mozart effect
Appearance of the effect
This term was introduced by a French otorhinolaryngologist Alfred Tomatis. As a doctor, he used Mozart's music with particular passion in his work practice, trying to cure various psychobiological disorders in patients.
The first experiment of US scientists
A little later, the idea of Alfred Tomatis was picked up and began to be developed by a team of researchers from the USA led by Francis Rauscher.
They conducted studies that resulted in pompous conclusions that the music of the great composer stimulates the brain and thereby improves cognitive functions, in particular spatial thinking and.
For the experiment itself, a small number of university students were involved, who were divided into 3 equal groups before writing a test on spatial-temporal thinking.
Each was offered special conditions for preparation: the first group sat in complete silence, the second listened to relaxation instructions in audiobook format, and the last, naturally, was immersed in the magic of Mozart's sonatas.
After “setting up their think tanks,” students did work aimed at analyzing some geometric shapes from paper, to look for missing parts and to generally evaluate the configurations of the provided objects.
When summing up the experimenters discovered that the results last group students were better than the rest by an average of ten points.
Second experiment
A little later, in order to consolidate the objectivity of the observations, another experiment was carried out, only this time, instead of Mozart and silence, the subjects were offered the works of Philip Glass and British trance music.
There was no increase in IQ among students this time. The scientists were happy, because for such complex task, as an improvement in mental abilities, an obvious and simple solution was found - listening to the works of Mozart. It seemed to the researchers that the music of only this composer had a beneficial effect on the firing of neurons in the region of the brain responsible for decision making.
Refutation
Temporary nature of the effect
The authors originally stated that the effect lasted about 10 minutes, so it would be unfair to say there was a permanent improvement in performance. Unfortunately, in the larger context, this important piece of information contained in the original study has been lost.
Selectivity
Later experiments also revealed that positive results in stimulating thinking can be achieved by turning not only to the work of Mozart, but also to any other classical piano works. And even more - to any melody, as long as it is pleasant to the listener.
After this, scientists changed their minds and put forward a new assumption: The Mozart effect is based on a short-term increase in the activity of the central nervous system and general mood person, which has a beneficial effect on the fulfillment of assigned tasks.
Final conclusion
On this moment science recognizes that with passive contact with music in the long term there is no improvement in intelligence characteristics, and temporary outbreaks when solving assigned problems are caused by a simple increase in a person’s mood.
Why learn to play musical instruments?
But all of the above is about listening to music in order to become smarter. What happens when a person learns to play a musical instrument? When playing, almost all parts of the brain are involved at the same time, which is not observed during normal listening. The visual, motor, and auditory functions of the cerebral cortex are involved.
So the game is on musical instruments, like any other structured and disciplined practice, strengthens the powers of the intellect and allows them to be used in related and fundamentally different types of activities, for example, those related to.
Which tool should you choose?
Deciding on choosing a musical instrument is actually not that difficult. However, it is best to approach this rationally; you can focus on personal preferences, your physical capabilities, the importance of the instrument’s mobility, its accessibility, as well as the climate on which its future safety directly depends.
Let's get acquainted with some atypical but interesting representatives:
Ukulele- Hawaiian miniature four-string guitar. Being in good hands music lover person, is in no way inferior in artistic component to the classical version.
Harmonica– probably this instrument is familiar to each of us; the harmonica is widely used in blues, jazz, folk, country and others musical directions. She is extremely mobile, which is good news, because you can practice your skills even in the most ordinary conditions, for example, standing in a traffic jam.
Hang- This percussion instrument, consisting of two connected metal hemispheres, it was born back in 2000 and created a real sensation in the musical field due to the fullness, richness and originality of the sound. Hang is produced in fairly small quantities, which is why it is expensive for the average buyer.
Lyra– ancient string plucked instrument, will be a great friend for history fans Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece.
Pan Flute(syringa) is a wooden ethnic wind instrument consisting of hollow tubes of various lengths. The beauty of this flute lies in the ease of mastering the playing technique and the endless possibilities for improvisation even at the very beginning stages.
Tell us, what musical instruments do you learn to play? What music tones you up, and what music, on the contrary, puts you in a state of peace?
We exposed these animals [rats] in the womb and sixty days after birth various types auditory stimulation and then led them into a spatial maze. And, of course, the animals exposed to the Mozart effect completed the maze faster and with fewer errors. Now we are dissecting animals and studying their brains to pinpoint neuro-anatomically what exactly changed in the brain as a result of this exposure. It is possible that intense exposure to music has similar effects on spatial regions of the hippocampus of the brain. – Dr. Francis Rauscher
That children's experiences in the early years of their lives ultimately determine their scholastic abilities, future careers, and ability to have love relationship, is almost unsupported by neurobiology. – John Brewer
The Mozart effect is a term coined by Alfred A. Tomatis for the supposed enhancement of brain development that occurs in children under 3 years of age when they listen to the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The idea of the Mozart effect originated in 1993 at the University of California, Irvine, with physicist Gordon Shaw and Frances Rauscher, a former cellist and cognitive development specialist. They studied the effect on several dozen students of the first 10 minutes of the “Sonata for two pianos in D major” (op. 448). They found a temporary improvement in spatial-temporal reasoning as measured by the Stanford-Binet scale. Numerous attempts have been made to replicate these results, but most have failed (Willingham 2006). One of the researchers noted that “the best thing that can be said about the results of their study is that listening to Mozart recordings on a short time increases IQ" (Linton). Rauscher continued to study the effects of the Mozart effect on rats. Shaw and Rauscher believe that listening to Mozart improves spatial reasoning and memory in people.
In 1997, Rauscher and Shaw announced that they had obtained scientific evidence that piano and singing training are superior to computer training in developing children's abstract thinking skills.
The experiment included three groups of preschoolers: one group received private piano and singing lessons, the second group received private computer lessons, and the third group received no training. Those children who received piano training scored 34% higher on tests measuring spatial-temporal abilities than others. These results show that music uniquely develops the higher brain functions necessary for learning mathematics, chess, science and technology (Neurological Research, February 1997).
Shaw and Rauscher gave impetus to an entire industry. In addition, they created their own institute: Neuroinstitute musical development intelligence (MIND). They conduct numerous studies to prove the amazing effects of music, they even created a website to track all the news regarding these studies.
Shaw and Rauscher claim that their work has been misrepresented. In fact, they showed "that there are structures of neurons that fire one after another and that there appear to be regions of the brain that respond to certain frequencies." This is not the same as showing that listening to Mozart increases intelligence in children. However, Shaw is not going to wait for more convincing evidence, since he already has no shortage of parents who want to increase the IQ of their children. He released a book as well as a CD called Remember Mozart. This disc can be ordered and purchased from the Shaw Institute. He and his colleagues believe that because spatiotemporal reasoning plays a significant role in solving cognitive problems, stimulating areas of the brain associated with it through exercise will increase a person's abilities. The show and its staff are selling a special computer program, which, with the assistance of a lively cartoon penguin, promotes the development of spatial thinking in everyone.
Shaw and Rauscher gave rise to an entire industry, but the media and uncritical people gave rise to alternative science that supported the industry. Exaggerated and false claims about the effects of music have become so hackneyed that attempting to correct them would be a waste of time. For example, Jamal Munshi, a university business administrator from Sonoma County, collects tidbits about misinformation and gullibility. He posts them on his website under the “Strange but True” section. There is information about Shaw and Rauscher's experiments showing that listening to a Mozart sonata "increased students' scientific and technical ability scores by 51 points." In fact, Shaw and Rauscher gave test forms to 36 University of California students and found that when listening to Mozart's music, participants showed a temporary improvement of 8-9% in their personal performance scores compared to a similar test administered after listening to relaxation music. (Munshi also claims that science cannot explain how flies fly. Scientists are working on this important problem, so we should give them credit. Some even claim to know how insects fly.)
Don Campbell, a supporter of the views of Carlos Castaneda and P.T. Barnum, exaggerates and distorts the works of Shaw, Rauscher and others in his favor. He has trademarked the expression "The Mozart Effect" and markets himself and his products at www.mozarteffect.com. Campbell claims he had a blood clot in his brain cleared up thanks to prayer and an imaginary vibrating hand inside him right side skulls Gullible proponents of alternative medicine do not question this claim, although it is one of the claims that cannot be proven or disproved. He could also claim that the blood clot was resolved thanks to the angels. (I wonder why he got a blood clot if music has such a good effect on a person. Maybe he was listening to rap?)
Campbell's statements about the effects of music are reminiscent of the Rococo style. And like Rococo, they are just as artificial. (Campbell states that music can cure all ills). He presents his evidence in a narrative form and misinterprets it. Some of his results are absolutely fantastic.
All his arguments collapse at the slightest intervention of common sense. If Mozart's music can improve health, why did Mozart himself often get sick? If listening to Mozart's music improves intelligence, why do the most smart people Are you not an expert on Mozart?
The lack of evidence for the Mozart effect did not prevent Campbell from becoming a favorite of the naive and gullible public to whom he lectures.
When McCall's magazine needs advice on how to use music to relieve sadness, when PBS wants to interview an expert on how the voice can energize you, when IBM needs a consultant on how to use music to increase productivity, when the National Association Cancer survivors need a speaker who can talk about the healing role of music, and they turn to Campbell. (Campbell site)
The governors of Tennessee and Georgia founded a program that gives a Mozart CD to every newborn. Legislative Assembly Florida passed a law requiring classical music to be played every day in publicly funded children's playrooms. educational institutions. Hundreds of hospitals received free CDs of classical music in May 1999 from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Foundation. It's unlikely that these good intentions are based on solid research that classical music increases a child's intelligence or speeds up the healing process in adults.
According to Kenneth Steele, professor of psychology at Appalachian State state university, and John Brewer, director of the James McDonnell Foundation in St. Louis, listening to Mozart's works does not actually have an impact on intellectual functioning or health. Steele and her colleagues Karen Bass and Melissa Crook say they relied on Shaw and Rauscher's reports but could not "find any effect" even though their study included 125 students. They concluded that "there is very little evidence to support the implementation of programs based on the existence of the Mozart effect." Their study, published in July 1999. Two years later, some researchers reported in the same journal that cases of the effect were associated with “increased mood and arousal” (Willingham 2006).
In his book, The Myth of the First Three Years, Brewer criticizes not only the Mozart effect, but also several other myths based on misinterpretations of recent brain research.
The Mozart effect is an example of how intertwined science and media are in our world. A report several paragraphs long in a scientific journal becomes a universal truth within a few months, believed even by scientists who know how the media can distort and distort results. Others, smelling the smell of money, go over to the winning side, adding their own own myths, dubious statements and distortions into the general collection. Then many gullible supporters close ranks and come out to defend the faith, because the future of our children is at stake. We happily buy books, cassettes, discs, etc. Soon millions already believe in the myth, considering it scientific fact. Then the process encounters slight critical resistance, because we already know that music can influence feelings and mood. Then why shouldn’t it influence intelligence and health, at least a little and temporarily? It's simple common sense, is not it? Yes, and another reason for skepticism.
