The Mozart Effect: A quantitative EEG study

Walter Verrusio; Evaristo Ettorre; Edoardo Vicenzini; Nicola Vanacore; Mauro Cacciafesta; Oriano Mecarelli

doi:10.1016/j.concog.2015.05.005

The Mozart Effect: A quantitative EEG study

Conscious Cogn. 2015 Sep:35:150-5. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2015.05.005. Epub 2015 May 29.

Authors

Walter Verrusio¹, Evaristo Ettorre², Edoardo Vicenzini³, Nicola Vanacore⁴, Mauro Cacciafesta², Oriano Mecarelli³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrologic, Anesthesiologic and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale del Policlinico 155, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrologic, Anesthesiologic and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale del Policlinico 155, Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
⁴ National Centre of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health, via Giano della Bella 34, Rome, Italy.

PMID: 26036835
DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2015.05.005

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of Mozart's music on brain activity through spectral analysis of the EEG in young healthy adults (Adults), in healthy elderly (Elderly) and in elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). EEG recording was performed at basal rest conditions and after listening to Mozart's K448 or "Fur Elise" Beethoven's sonatas. After listening to Mozart, an increase of alpha band and median frequency index of background alpha rhythm activity (a pattern of brain wave activity linked to memory, cognition and open mind to problem solving) was observed both in Adults and in Elderly. No changes were observed in MCI. After listening to Beethoven, no changes in EEG activity were detected. This results may be representative of the fact that said Mozart's music is able to "activate" neuronal cortical circuits related to attentive and cognitive functions.

Keywords: Cognition; Mozart Effect; Problem solving; qEEG.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alpha Rhythm / physiology*
Attention*
Case-Control Studies
Cognition*
Cognitive Dysfunction / physiopathology*
Electroencephalography
Female
Humans
Male
Music*
Problem Solving*
Spectrum Analysis