Alex
quote:
Originally posted by AlexK:
The effect of classical music is found to be temporary. It is more likely to be brain puzzlers that you work on after listening to the classical music that will give you a better chance of increasing your IQ point than classical music itself.Alex
I think you could look at it another way. Although the measured effect of listening to classical music is temporary, the "boost" it gives you could be incorporated over time into a more intelligent lifestyle. Meaning, that if you consistently listen to classical music and then, say, specifically engage yourself in challenging mental activities, you could, over time, adapt to your daily thinking processes to that temporary boost, kind of like a "training wheels" effect.
I also think there would be a noticeable difference if you actually got to the point where you developed a real taste for it and cultivated your interest in it actively, as opposed to just using it as a "spot technique" to boost your I.Q. (I don't think there have been any studies to this effect, but if there were I'm pretty sure they would be revealing.)
I haven't really used classical music in this way, but this is definitely part of my approach to using sound and light machines. Although the results from LS, in a generic sense, may be temporary, I found on many occassions that using concentration frequencies can allow me to adapt my thinking more skillfully to a new area of learning, and once I stop using LS for that purpose, the learning/new level of thinking is still with me.
I would be interested in seeing references on that, if anyone has them.
quote:
Frances H Rauscher Ph.D., and her colleagues conducted a study in which 36 undergraduates from the psychology department scored eight to nine points higher on the spatial IQ test (part of the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale) after listening to 10 minutes of Mozart's "Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major" (K.448). Althoug the effects lasted only 10 to fifteen minutes, Rauscher's team concluded that the relationship between music and spatial reasoning was so strong that simply listening to music can make a difference.
The fact that listening to music increases intelligence even for a short term is questioned. Since it appears that no one else has been able to replicate the effect.
This web page questions how the "Effect" has been promoted and perhaps exaggerated. http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9903/linton.html
Alex
the jury is still out on the effects.
certain follow-up studies to the original mozart effect experiment claimed to disprove the original findings, showing that they couldnt be replicated.
however, there were inherent methodological flaws in these follow-up studies and also werent precise replication of the original experiment; they missed out several of the most important factors that supported the original work.
there have been some studies which do support the mozart effect and some which dont, about 50 in total now.
most studies have shown that the main area of performance enhancement has been that of spatial-reasoning abilities, which actually covers a lot of mental functions.
i wouldnt expect to find conclusive evidence one way or another quite yet, but do expect to find businesses jumping on the bandwagon for a quick buck, selling CDs like "Mozart for Maths" etc.
classical music is an incredible thing. it is some of the most beautiful music i have ever found. intelligence improvement aside, its worth immersing yourself in just for the pure aural luxuries it will bring you if you truly open yourself to it.
A few things come to mind:
1) Does the emphasis on Mozart strike anyone else as strange? Not that he's undeserving, it just seems there are so many other composers out there.
2) Have any NLPers modeled these effects?
Thanks again. This a an interesting thread.
--Brian
its still not understood why exactly baroque music has this effect over other forms. some say it is to do with the synchronicity between the tempo and alpha brainwaves, and other theories are given.
as for nlpers modelling these effects.. i dont think so.
the closest i know of is dilts showing the strategies that mozart used, in his "strategies of genius" books, although i cant remeber which one.. its either 1 or 3.
quote:
Originally posted by Dr Robotnik:
mozart is not the only composer used for the "mozart effect" although his music is found to have the most profound effects, due to the perfect balance that exemplifies his style in form and structure.
baroque music is all about this type of balance and it just so happens that mozart seems to do the "best" job. that isnt to say he is the best composer, (although that is certainly arguable), merley that his particular style of baroque tempo and balance in form creates the perfect effect for accelerated learning.its still not understood why exactly baroque music has this effect over other forms. some say it is to do with the synchronicity between the tempo and alpha brainwaves, and other theories are given.
as for nlpers modelling these effects.. i dont think so.
the closest i know of is dilts showing the strategies that mozart used, in his "strategies of genius" books, although i cant remeber which one.. its either 1 or 3.
Thanks for the response.
Actually, Mozart was a classical era composer. Bach, Vivaldi (et al) were baroque. In fact, Mozart has been criticized for lacking the counterpoint that typically characterizes late baroque composition - and for which Bach is considered a master.
Interesting comment on brain waves.
--Brian
"Actually, Mozart was a classical era composer. Bach, Vivaldi (et al) were baroque. In fact, Mozart has been criticized for lacking the counterpoint that typically characterizes late baroque composition - and for which Bach is considered a master. "
ahhhhh... i should recheck my history, lol.
when i was doing my research on the mozart effect the reserahcers would always class Mozart and baroque style together, in the sense that they were both able to provoke an accelerated learning state. so, i presumed mozart *was* of baroque style, as opposed to just being similar in its psychological impact.
glad you told me that 
thanks.
It is probably the idea that the music he composed influenced the genius in him to be sustained later in life. Since he continued to compose music his entire life. Afterall all children are born genius they usually fail to sustain it into their adult lives.
Baroque music music has a soothing effect in that the consistant tempo of 60 beats a minute slows the heart to that pace. It seems that the beat of music influences the heartbeat. A slow heartbeat of about 60 beats per minute is a resting beat and as such is a relaxed state. The relaxed state is found to be more productive to learning and remembering.
Alex
quote:
Originally posted by AlexK:
Mozart was considered a genius of sorts in the sense that he started composing music from a very early age.It is probably the idea that the music he composed influenced the genius in him to be sustained later in life. Since he continued to compose music his entire life. Afterall all children are born genius they usually fail to sustain it into their adult lives.
Baroque music music has a soothing effect in that the consistant tempo of 60 beats a minute slows the heart to that pace. It seems that the beat of music influences the heartbeat. A slow heartbeat of about 60 beats per minute is a resting beat and as such is a relaxed state. The relaxed state is found to be more productive to learning and remembering.
Alex
Thanks for the note, as always, Alex. Interesting comments on genius and relaxation.
<begin music lesson>
As a point of musical-correctness:
The idea that Baroque music has a constant tempo of 60 beats per minute is inaccurate. Listen to the ever-recorded Four Seasons (Vivaldi) and it will be evident that the tempo is neither constant nor 60 beats per minute.
Tempo indications in classical music are inexact. (eg, adagio = slow, allegro = fast presto = very fast, etc) so beats per minute will vary by performance. The metronome wasn't invented until the early 1800s (after Baroque composers were gone), and even then, metronome markings are not always commonly used.
<end music lesson>
Without the variation in the tempo the baroque pieces would boring. Since the research into the impact of music on the body and mind 'new age' pieces have been created. Admittedly I find the uneven tempo of baroque more natural to my mind than the mechanical attempts created by so many of the relaxation products being sold.
Baroque may not even be as effective as some of the newly developed 'new age' material anymore. It just happened to be the first effective pieces that they found. And just as everything else in life, what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another since we are all individuals with individual preferences.
Alex
Check out the Sound therapy system developed by Patricia Joudry or the SAMONAS (Spectrally Activated Music of Optimal NAtural Structure) CD recordings.
"The Samonas system is a powerful and sophisticated tool for auditory intervention based on the findings and experience of classic music therapy, neurobiological research and understanding of brain functioning.
Somonas combines and represents the knowledge of Nature, Physics of Acoustic Sounds and the development of Psycho-Acoustic Structures relating to all parts of the human organism.
Samonas Sound Therapy comes from the "Klangstudio Lambdoma" of Ingo Steinbach. Steinbach's highly original work should be seen in the tradition of the great Alfred Tomatis, but it extends Tomatis' ideas in several important ways.
Tomatis and Steinbach agree that music's overtones (high-frequency tones that you may not even notice) can profoundly energize and invigorate our ears, brain and total body. But Steinbach stresses the importance of using enjoyable, euphoric, audiophile quality CD recordings, because he found that the brain is more responsive to pleasant sounds.
Feed the brain and body through the ear Steinbach's Sound Therapy entails listening every day - for four weeks to seven months or more - to classical music that is specailly recorded and specially activated via a Steinback Envelope Curve Modulator to include a complex overtone frequency matrix ranging from 5 to 20,000 Hz. Steinback's special CDs feature his own hand-selected musicians, instruments and recording environments, and meticulous production. Heard through high-quality headphones and top-quality equipment, the music has a startling richness. It provides a micor-massage to the middle ear and stimulation to the inner ear, resulting int he specific input the brain needs to process the full range of sound necessary for the brain's development (rather than the limited range in our normal environment). This in turn stimulates full functioning of body and nervous system."
"The astounding effect of this therapy is due to a special treatment of classical music with the newly developed envelope shape modulator of the SAMONAS principle. This process is called Spectral Activation. This ensures that the healing effect of this special music reaches the psychological level of human hearing in the body. The body's own memories are naturally awakened.
Sound Therapy establishes a connection to the echo of the past in which the vibrating energy of sound simultaneously signifies vitality, life energy, and immediate presence. For the individual who wants to use Sound Therapy, it is an instrument for the stimulation and harmonisation of vitality, life energy, and the ability to concentrate. In addition it stimulates creativity and productivity.
The therapeutical applications of SAMONAS Sound Therapy have been practiced for many years. It affects the brain and nervous system directly through the sense of hearing and can be used to improve hearing. It can be used to improve psychological and physical conditions such as hearing, learning difficulties, voice problems and behavioural disturbances which are causally associated with the area of acoustic perception. Some problems, especially by Tinnitus and Stress are helped by listening to the CDs. Spectral Activation of Sounds in the SAMONAS Sound Therapy and the concept of syn-energy"