title: The Mozart Effect: A quantitative EEG study.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrologic, Anesthesiologic and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale del Policlinico 155, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: walter.verrusio@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Verrusio
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrologic, Anesthesiologic and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale del Policlinico 155, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Evaristo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ettorre
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vicenzini
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health, via Giano della Bella 34, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vanacore
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrologic, Anesthesiologic and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale del Policlinico 155, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cacciafesta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Oriano
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mecarelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D001288:Attention; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D011340:Problem Solving; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
keywords: Cognition; Mozart Effect; Problem solving; qEEG