The Mozart Effect - How Clasical Music Changes Your Behavior

I listen to a variety of music genres, but vocal trance is what I mostly tune into, especially when I'm driving. It's uplifting and good-mood inducing.

I learned about the neuropsychological implications of music a few years back and since then I started paying more attention to how I react to different beats.

You've probably heard others saying that listening to a specific type of music influence your behavior but you may have not been provided scientific evidence for the claim. I've looked into this matter and here's what I found.

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Past and Present Studies

In 1993 Dr. Frances Rauscher and her colleagues at U.C. Irvine conducted a study to determine the effects of listening to Mozart music.

They recruited 36 students and divided them into three groups:

• group 1: listen to Mozart's Sonata K 448
• group 2: listen to a relaxing voice for 10 minutes
• group 3: sit in silence for 10 minutes

Immediately after the interventions, the subjects were tested with the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale to determine if there was any change in their visual and spatial learning:

• group 1: average score of 119 points.
• group 2: average score of 111 points.
• group 3: average score of 110 points.

I know this looks like a very modest change. And it probably is. But the study caused hype, which is what I found more interesting:

• in 1998, Georgia's governor issued a bill so that mothers of newborns receive CD with classical music.
• in 1998, state laws required Florida daycare centers to play at least 1 hour of classical music every day.

How did I get to be interested in this?

I learned about music and brain behavior after reading Daniel Amen's controversial book Change your Brain, Change your Life. While I was deeply influenced by his book back then, I grew to be more skeptical as years went by, not only of Dr. Amen but of every claim that is not supported by strong evidence.

Anyhow, Dr. Amen considers himself a brain specialist because since the '90s he has been analyzing thousands of SPECT scans (a type of computer tomography) of his patients; based on those scans, he has developed his own way of diagnosing and intervening to improve the pathological conditions of these patients. I assume that his method may work, even though it has not been widely accepted by the scientific community.

I am going off track...

So, in his book he explains how exposing yourself to a certain type of music is like a door opener to the human mind, while exposing yourself to other types of music can be disturbing and destructive (hmm, bold claim). He specifically points to young people who listen to heavy metal music and end up in rehabilitation centers.

I'd say: correlation != causation, but anyway, this could be one of the reasons for the lack of wide acceptability of his methods.

I also read a study entitled The Secret Life of the Unborn Child where Dr. Verny wanted to determine the reaction of fetuses exposed to Vivaldi and Mozart music. According to Dr. Verny, the little ones were calmer when exposed to classical music as their heart rates and kicks were fewer and milder. Conversely, when they were exposed to more 'aggressive' music, their heart rates were more intense and their kicks more powerful. I am not aware if this type of study has been replicated since.

How Music Influences Me

I started this article telling you how good-mood inducing trance music is to me. I also told you that I listen to a variety of music genres. For one reason, I enjoy Metallica and their 1992 Metallica album. One of my favorite songs from this album is Wherever I may Roam.

As I plug the album in my car CD player and as it starts playing, it's like a flood of endorphins rushing in. I can feel its energy and refreshing effect.

I know this may sound 'esoteric', and it probably is. I could simply be the subject of self-induced suggestion. But I don't mind. I enjoy the effect and I kindof anticipate it. So, this is a nice hack when I feel lethargic behind the wheel.

Similarly, when I write, I find I'm most creative while listening to instrumental trance, chillout and to classical music. I particularly listen to chillout while reading books. It seems to increase my ability to focus and to understand the words and concepts I'm reading.

It may be that Mozart's K. 448 Sonata does its magic on me in my creative blocks of time, which is why l think it's reasonable to end this post by sharing a link to it. Enjoy!

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#psychology #neuroscience #practical #music

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Cristi Vlad, Self-Experimenter and Author