Music: The Mozart Effect On The Brain

Music is apart of every human’s life from day one. Whether the melodic sounds are played from a radio or sang by another person does not matter, music is meant to soothe and captivate people. Although, not every song is “music to our ears,” so what factor decides an individual’s music preference? Music taste is established through experiences and with age. In the womb, babies can start to hear sounds at about eighteen weeks, but will not respond to sounds until around twenty-six weeks. Many parents play music for their unborn babies, but the music a baby listens to will not affect his or her taste in music later on in life. If a song has been played for a baby in the womb for an extensive period of time, the infant may show recognition to

While classical music does sometimes help process information, it will not magically improve an individual’s IQ. The Mozart effect is based on the impact Mozart’s sixty beats per minute songs have on the brain. Mozart’s work activates the left and right sides of the brain simultaneously, which enhances memory and learning. Playing an instrument also triggers the use of both sides of the brain, which explains why both listening to and playing music have similar effects. Video game soundtracks also help with concentration, since they are practically designed to keep people focused. Almost any type of music with no lyrics should improve attention spans at least a little

Dr. Costas Karageorghis, a sports psychologist, claims that “music is like a legal drug for athletes.” Listening to the right music during a workout out makes a person work harder and keeps them focused. Not all types of music cause the same beneficial impacts. Songs that have between 120 and 140 bpm (beats per minute) are the most effective, such as Michael Jackson’s song “Beat it”, which has 139 bpm. Tunes with 80-90 bpm, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers song “Scar Tissue” at 89 bpm, are best used for warming up or cooling down. Using the correct number of beats per minute during running or biking workouts is extremely helpful because the body stays synced with the rhythm of a song. In a weight-lifting workout, music may be good for staying in sync, but it works better for just staying