The Effects of Classical Music on the Brain Group 7

Kasie Baltes Eugene Colleran James Corona David Kemp Todd Seaman Carolyn Turner Ryan Wolfarth

EDP 101 B Table of Contents

Page Number Topic Covered Student

Pp.3-4 Introduction: Why does music affect IQ levels?...... David Kemp

Pp.4-5 What causes an increase in IQ levels?...... Eugene Colleran

Pp. 6-7 What are the effects of classical music on the brain?...... Todd Seaman

Pp. 7-8 What other types of music can increase IQ levels?...... Carrie Turner

Pp. 8-9 What is the Mozart effect? …………..…………………..Kasie Baltes

Pp. 9-10 What products help increase IQ levels?...... Ryan Wolfarth

Pp. 10-11 Famous classical musicians and their IQ levels……...... Jim Corona

Pp. 12 Personal reflection and relation to class material?...... Group

Pp. 13-14 Works Cited

2 Introduction:

The purpose of this group investigation is to examine the effects of classical music on the brain. After researching several areas dealing with music and its effects on the brain, the group decided to examine seven specific topics. These topics include: why does music affect IQ levels, what causes the increase in IQ levels, what is the effect of classical music on the brain, what other types of music can increase IQ levels, what is the Mozart effect and what is its effect on the brain, what products help increase IQ levels, and famous classical musicians and their corresponding IQ levels. Through topics discussed in class, it is believed that music in general is beneficial to brain function. This group investigation will examine this idea with respect to the content listed above.

Why does music increases IQ levels?

Many studies have been performed regarding the effects of music on early and late childhood development and IQ levels in particular. Several researchers in the early 1990s examined the effects of music on the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is the part of the brain that aids in motor control, memory, speech, and auditory reception (Davis & Palladino, 2007,

71). The experiment involved thirty-six undergraduate students at the University of California,

Irvine. Students participated in an IQ test, and then listened to a Mozart Sonata before taking another intelligence test. Researchers found that students’ scores improved an average of 8-9 points after listening to the Mozart Sonata (Plucker, J.A., 2003). Later referred to as the Mozart

Effect, these findings inspired many more studies of how music affects brain activity and IQ levels. The Mozart Effect has gained both support and contempt.

The original Mozart Effect researchers, Rauscher and Shaw, “hypothesized that listening to certain types of complex music may ‘warm-up’ neural transmitters inside the cerebral cortex

3 and thereby improve spatial performance” (Plucker, J.A., 2003). According to a more recent study in Canada, “Children who take music lessons before the age of six tend to be more intelligent than their peers” (Miller, K., 2004). Professor Glenn Schellenberg, of the Psychology

Department at the University of Toronto led the research. Schellenberg attributed the test results to the numerous different skills needed in order to learn music; “There are so many different facets involved, such as memorizing, expressing emotion, learning about musical intervals and chords” (Miller, K., 2004).

Some researchers are skeptical of the results presented by Rauscher and Shaw, claiming that the increase in spatial intelligence is “nothing more than a shift in participants' arousal, which then produces better spatial test scores” (Plucker, J.A., 2003). Essentially, they are arguing that Mozart does not make people smarter but rather increases or decreases their mood level, creating optimal conditions for thinking and brain activity.

The results of these tests have shown that music, Mozart in particular increases performance on IQ tests. The reason as to why music causes this increase is still up for debate.

Some believe that music increases brain activity and thus makes people “smarter” while others believe that music simply creates a mood which is optimal for thinking. Whatever the reason for the increase in IQ level, it has been shown time and time again that music, listening to or playing increases performance on IQ tests.

What causes the increase in IQ levels?

4 There are a number of causes that may affect the IQ of a child or even an adult. Among these causes is the affects of classical music. Classical music has been shown to help increase IQ levels. For years, there have been numerous rumors stating that learning how to play a classical musical instrument as a child can increase a child’s IQ levels. Also, a number of studies have indicated that listening to classical music has a positive effect on IQ levels.

Learning to play a classical music instrument such as the piano or violin has been shown to help increase IQ levels among children. Even taking weekly piano or singing lessons can lead to better memory and higher performance in the class room. In one research study in Canada, among children ages four to six, students who had musical training performed substantially better than non-musical children in simple memory tests. Another study in Toronto revealed that the average IQ scores of six year olds with piano or voice lessons were three points higher than their non-musical peers.

In 1993, Frances Rauscher, Gordon Shaw, and Katherine Ky found that college students’

IQs increased by eight to nine points after listening to Mozart’s first movement. In the subsequent research done by the original researchers and many others, a number of hypotheses have been constructed to answer the question of how classical music causes an increase in IQ levels. These hypotheses included the arousal idea, stating that students performed better after listening to Mozart because they were more alert. Also, the mood and preference hypotheses were made suggesting that if a student prefers classical music, then his or her mood will be positive, which will lead to better performance on the IQ test. As of yet, no single hypothesis has proven correct for a substantial number of cases. The reason listening to classical music causes an IQ increase is still somewhat unknown in its most scientific sense, but research has shown that there is coloration between listening to classical music and an increase in IQ levels.

5 The effect of classical music on the brain:

For years, scientists have been studying how music affects the brain and its functions.

People often wonder if listening to music can actually increase ones intelligence. In his book

This Is Your Brain on Music, Daniel Levitin states that musical activity involves nearly every region of the brain and nearly every neural subsystem (Levitin, 2006, pp. 85-86). Recent findings suggest that when listening to a rhythmic sound, the motor region of our brain is active even if our body is not. Findings like this have led researchers to conduct studies exploring the effects of classical music on the brain.

Daniel Levitin points out that researchers have discovered that listening to classical music can improve ones performance on spatial reasoning tasks given immediately after the listening session. (Levitin, 2006, p. 225). This means that there is a short-term correlation between students who listen to classical music and their performance in math and science. Research has also shown that listening to music leads to increased activity in the brains temporal region, which is the auditory center responsible for processing sound and music. Dr. Diane Bales claims, “the classical music pathways in our brain are similar to the pathways we use for spatial reasoning.

When we listen to classical music, the spatial pathways are "turned on" and ready to be used”

(Bales, 1998). Researchers think that the complexity of classical music is what primes the brain to solve spatial problems more quickly. In other words, many researchers claim that classical music may have different, more beneficial effects on the brain when compared to other types of music.

6 Sharlene Peck Habermeyer has spent the last eighteen years researching the effects of music in brain development of young children. Her research concludes that because of classical music’s complex repetitive patterns, the music connects and develops the motor systems of the brain, improves eyesight and hearing, and enhances coordination, concentration, and memory

(Habermeyer, 1999). Her studies have also found that college students who listen to classical music while studying absorb, retain, and retrieve the information easier than those studying in silence. According to Habermeyer, “parents can increase their children’s brain functioning, enlarge their capacity for learning, and enrich their lives—through classical music!”

(Habermeyer, 1999). While critics still argue that there is not enough evidence to support the idea that classical music affects brain functions, numerous studies indicate that listening to classical music does have an impact on learning and the brain.

What other types of music can increase IQ levels?

While many studies have shown that listening to classical music increases IQ levels, it is questionable to say that classical is the only style of music which does so. Multiple studies have shown that it is not just Mozart that will increase IQ level, but any music that stimulates the brain. It tends to be a very personal matter – some music will affect one persons IQ positively the way it might affect an others negatively. Like most things, the psychology of each individual shares similarities with other people, but it’s ultimately very unique: human beings learn differently, and certain things, music included, has different effects on everyone.

A study conducted at the University of Toronto examined the effects of extra-curricular activities on a group of 144 six-year-old children. The children were given voice lessons, keyboard lessons, drama lessons, or no lessons, for one year. IQ tests were taken before and after the lessons, revealing that increases in IQ from pre- to post-test were larger in the music

7 groups than in the other two. Generally these increases occurred across IQ subtests, index scores, and academic achievement. This study proves that it is not solely listening to classical music that will increase IQ levels: playing an instrument or taking voice lessons triggers IQ improvement. Additionally, it isn’t just Mozart, but music in general that has a positive affect on the brain.

Another study conducted by the Federation of Drums and Percussion found that playing the drums improves IQ scores of children. “Playing the drums makes the brain think in a way that very few activities can,” said Pat Brown, International Drum Month chairman.

Understanding musical notes and dissecting how rhythms work is a complicated process that can improve ones IQ level. Here, we have yet another study that reaches beyond the realm of classical music, and produces satisfying results for instrument-players around the world.

What is the Mozart Effect?

The Mozart Effect was first observed in the United States in 1993 by Fran Rauscher.

Rauscher was a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin, where he determined that

“students who listened to Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major for 10 minutes performed better on a spatial reasoning test than students who listened to new age music or nothing at all”

(Singer, 2004). Rauscher described this in the Nature Journal, which discusses how music can increases spatial-temporal reasoning. “The Mozart Effect suggests that exposure to musical compositions that are structurally complex excites certain cortical firing patterns comparable to those activated when completing spatial-temporal tasks” (Cassity, 2007).

Daniel J. Levitin also discusses an individual study involving the Mozart Effect in his book. This study stated that “listening to Mozart for ten minutes a day made you smarter”

8 (Levitin, 2006). In Georgia, there was a new budget passed to buy Mozart CDs for every new born baby in the state. Although this study made it obvious that there was a connection between music and intelligence, it did not prove that it has a long term effect on memory.

Though there is evidence that supports the Mozart Effect, scientists are slow to believe that music can increase mental performance. This is because we still lack sufficient scientific data to link music and increased IQ. Rauscher’s data “suggests stimulation in general has measurable neurochemical effects” (Singer, 2004), but does not show a direct connection to music and Mozart. Despite the fact that scientists have “discredited claims that listening to music enhances intelligence” (Krakovsky, 2005), the Mozart Effect still remains popular in society. Numerous parents are convinced that Mozart’s music has a positive influence on their child’s education. More and more new moms are purchasing Mozart CDs and classical music in hopes of increasing their childs intelligence.

What products are out to help increase IQ levels?

The idea of music and its relation an individuals intelligence quotient obviously raises more questions than it answers. Classical music may prove useful in raising one’s IQ; it may prove useless! What are some proven and effective ways to increase your brainpower? The following page includes a small host of products and methods that are known to augment any

“average Joe’s” noodle.

Although proper diet may be a rather obvious solution for good overall health, it can also be a cornerstone for a fit and efficient mind. According to Steve Gillman, increasing brainpower can be accomplished by simply eating right! A healthy, balanced diet has a direct correlation to how alert and efficient you feel and operate (Gillman, 2008). Foods rich in vitamins have been

9 proven to help children score higher on exams. Additionally, those who aren’t operating on a balanced diet can still revel in the rewards: simply taking a multivitamin everyday will help improve attitude and attentiveness (Gillman, 2008).

A quick Google search will yield numerous products that claim to increase brain power.

These snake oils are generally sold from lack-luster web sites or individuals with no known credibility. A product that many have found highly effective is Eye Q. Through a month long regimen of daily eye training exercises on a personal computer, users will notice a significant increase in their ability to process information. The producer of Eye Q, Dr. Akihiro Kawamura, incorporates physical stimulation of the eye with mental exercises that are designed to break bad habits in how an individual interprets and processes information (Infinite Mind, 2002). Though the price is rather steep, Eye Q has proven effective in boosting brainpower.

It’s clear that there is a market for IQ escalating products. This growing industry could reenergize the Lynn-Flynn effect, which appeared to cease and even decrease in principle among certain demographics, during the mid-1990s (Wikipedia, 2008). Whether the goal is to score well on an intelligence test, or simply to become more alert and attentive, either of these solutions has proven up to the task.

Famous composers and their intelligence quotients:

For years there has been ongoing debate over the Mozart Effect and similar hypotheses regarding their relevance to stimulated brain activity and increases in I.Q. scores. For this to hold any truth, one would assume that the musical pieces believed to offer this miraculous benefit would have to been composed by an equally brilliant, or genius mind. Encyclopedia

Britannica defines a genius as “a person of great intelligence, who shows an exceptional natural

10 capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work.” Applying this concept

to music, genius is the ability to hold a number of different melodies in ones head at once and

still able to predict their behavior, all without having played a single note! Below is a table of

some famous composers along with educational estimates of their IQ scores.

Composer Origin Numerical I.Q. Felix Mendelssohn Germany 165 George Friedrich Händel Germany 170 Johann Sebastian Bach Germany 165 Johann Strauss Germany 170 Joseph Haydn Austria 160 Ludwig van Beethoven Germany 165 Richard Wagner Germany 170 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Austria 165

As the figure indicates, each of these composers were gifted with exceptional levels of

intelligence, and could be considered genius by any of today’s standards. However, it is the

work of Mozart alone that is being studied for its potential intelligence boosting properties.

Although Mozart is credited with a very high IQ, he is by no means better Bach or Beethoven;

two brilliant musicians who are not receiving any buzz for composing “smart music.” It can

therefore be assumed that the potential benefits of music have little relation to the intelligence of

the composer, but instead to the actual complexity and characteristics of the final piece created.

Conclusion:

Through the course of this investigation, it has been found that music has very positive

effects on the brain. Through the studies researched, it was found that not only classical music

11 had positive effects on the brain, but rather music in general. As previously noted, Daniel

Levitan’s book, This is Your Brain on Music, supports the thesis of this investigation that music, regardless of the style, has a positive effect on the brain. While the reason for increasing ones IQ remains unclear, it is believed that the complexity of learning how to play music works differently: creative parts of the brain that are not used as much otherwise are exercised during musical activity. It is also suggested that music helps to create a positive mood whereby people can think more coherently, again aiding in and boosting IQ levels. Whether helping to increase

IQ levels or by creating a more positive mood, this investigation has found music to positively affect the brain.

12 Works Cited:

American Psychological Society (2004, August 20). New Research Provides The First Solid Evidence That The Study Of Music Promotes Intellectual Development. Science Daily. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com- /releases/2004/08/040820082332.htm

Bales, Dr. Diane (1998). Building Baby's Brain: The Role of Music. Retrieved April 19, 2008, from http://www.educationoasis.com/resources/Articles/building_babys_brain.ht.

Berlyak, Link. (2008, April 4). Music Education Leads to Increase in IQ. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from Federation of Drums and Percussion, website: .

Cassity, Hope Daniels; Henley, Tracy B.; Markley, Robert P. (2007). Journal of Instructional Psychology. Vol. 34 Issue 1, p13-17, 5p

Davis, S. F. & Palladino, J. J. (2007). Psychology (5th Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Genius. (2008). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved April 21, 2008, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/229159/genius

Gillman, Steve (2004-2008). Brain Foods. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.increasebrainpower.com/brainfoods.html

Habermeyer, Sharlene P. (1999, August). Good Music, Brighter Children. Retrieved April 18, 2008, from http://www.musical-expressions.com/ Web site: http://www.musicalexpressions.com/music_and_the_brain.htm.

Hetland, Lois (2000). Listening to Music Enhances Spatial-Temporal Reasoning: Evidence for the "Mozart Effect." Journal of Aesthetic Education, 34. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/view/3333640?seq=1.

Holden, Constance. (2003). Science. Vol. 301 Issue 5635, p914-915, 2p

Holley, William C. Estimated I.Q. of Famous People . Retrieved April 21, 2008, from Archure Web site: http://www.archure.net/psychology/IQs.html

Infinite Mind (2002). Science. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.infmind.com/what/science.asp?sl=tp&ssl=sc

Jackson, Melissa (March 29, 2008). Is Music the Key to Academic Gains? BBC News. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7319024.stm

13 Krakovsky, Marina. (2005). Dubious ‘Mozart Effect’ remains music to many Americans’ ears. Retreived on April 21, 2008 from http://news- service.stanford.edu/news/2005/february2/mozart-020205.html

Levitin, D.J. (2006). This is your brain on music: The science of a human obsession. New York, NY: Dutton.

Miller, K. (2004). Music Lessons Help Children Climb the Intelligence Scale. Retrieved April 21, 2008. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/07/25/nmus25.xml

Plucker, J. A. (Ed.). (2003). Human intelligence: Historical influences, current controversies, teaching resources. Retrieved April 21, 2008, from http://www.indiana.edu/~intell/mozarteffect2.shtml

Singer, Emily. (April 23, 2004) Molecular basis for Mozart effect revealed. Retrieved April 21, 2008, from http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4918-molecular-basis-for-mozart- effect-revealed.html

Wikipedia contributors (18 April 2008). Flynn Effect. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flynn_effect

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