Listening To Mozart Improves Memory

Listening to music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, shown in the portrait above, caused changes in brain wave activity that are linked to intelligence, memory and having an open mind to problem solving, research from Sapienza University of Rome shows. The effects were most pronounced in young adults and elderly adults.

[From article]
The researchers, from Sapienza University of Rome, said: 'These results may be representative of the fact that Mozart's music is able to 'activate' neuronal cortical circuits (circuits of nerve cells in the brain) related to attentive and cognitive functions.'
The results were 'not just a consequence of listening to music in general', they added.
For the study, which was published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, the researchers used EEG machines to record the electrical activity of the participants' brains.
Recordings were made before and after they listened to 'L'allegro con spirito' from the Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major K448 by Mozart, and before and after they listened to Fur Elise by Beethoven.The group was made up of 10 young healthy adults with an average age of 33 (referred as the Adults), 10 healthy elderly adults with an average age of 85 (known as the Elderly), and 10 elderly people with mild cognitive impairment with an average age of 77 (referred to as MCI).
'The results of our study show an increase in the alpha power and MF frequency index of background activity in both Adults and in the healthy elderly after listening to Mozart's K448, a pattern of brain wave activity linked to intelligent quotient (IQ), memory, cognition and (having an) open mind to problem solving.

[. . .]

'One of the distinctive features of Mozart's music is the frequent repetition of the melodic line; this determines the virtual lack of 'surprise' elements that may distract the listener's attention from rational listening, where each element of harmonic (and melodic) tension finds a resolution that confirms listeners' expectations,' they wrote.
A previous study, published in 1993, found that listening to K448 could also improve spatial reasoning skills for a short time afterwards.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3112339/How-listening-Mozart-boost-memory-Classical-composer-s-music-linked-increase-brain-wave-activity-beats-Beethoven.html

Listening to Mozart can boost your memory: Classical composer's music increases brain wave activity - and it beats Beethoven
Researchers played classical music to young adults and elderly people
Listening to Mozart's L'allegro con spirito sparked changes in brain activity
It triggered brain activity linked to memory, cognition and problem solving
Beethoven's Fur Elise, however, failed to show any significant change
By SOPHIE FREEMAN FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 08:40 EST, 5 June 2015 | UPDATED: 08:43 EST, 5 June 2015