How does classical music affect brain activity?

Answer 1

I have heard that it increases brain activity in the fetus and small children. I do not know the facts about it though.

Hello Mschivious,

Classical Music, along with other types of music, is proven to help with fetal development. Most experts agree that almost any type of music is suitable for babies. Relaxing and calming music is good for both the mother and baby, as well as anything cheerful or up beat, depending on your mood.

Music affects a baby's brain neurologically, by helping to stimulate brain cells and the synapses that connect the brain cells together. This helps lay the foundation for the baby's learning abilities and encourages the development of language & memory skills.

Listening to music is good for both the mother and baby. For mom, music is a wonderful relaxation tool, and listening to music while pregnant helps reduce stress levels. By listening to music along with your baby in the womb, it also creates a wonderful bonding experience during pregnancy. Plus, playing the same music after birth that you played during pregnancy can help improves a baby's sleeping habits. Familiar music captures a baby's attention and comforts them.

Answer 2

The calming sounds of classical music jog the brain to make its organization abilities heightened. This helps the brain to pick up the melodies and rhythms easier. The production of Serotonin is increased therefore makes for a happier state. Thus bringing us to the point when a person is happier they pay attention closer and more accurately making the brain change in to a focused state.

Answer 3

Many scientific studies have been done regarding whether music has an effect on plants and, if so, whether classical or rock music affects plants, and how.

There is a well-known study from the early 1970s, conducted by Dorothy Retallack at the Colorado Woman's College in Denver using the college's three Biotronic Control Chambers. Among her experiments were plant growth when exposed to different types of music, including classical music.

The other genres of music she experimented with: were classical music (Debussy), jazz (she use Louis Armstrong among others), and Indian (Ravi Shankar). The plants grew large and healthy, with the plants actually growing towards the radio for each of these three forms of music, just like they bend towards sunlight. Retallack also experimented with Country Music (such as Jonny Cash) and found they neither grew toward or away from the speakers and seemed neutral.

Retallack did have a personal bias and by the end of her research she believed plants could feel and respond to the vibrations. She tried acid rock music by Led Zeppelin, Vanilla Fudge, and Hendrix. It was played to one group of plants and semi-pop music (of the 1970's) to another. The "acid rock music" plants were sickly and small compared to the control group of "semi popular" music (now termed soft rock).

On the other hand, Mythbusters did their own experiments and obtained a different result. Their experiments suggested that heavy metal seems to stimulate growth more than other types of music. The catalyst is possibly the rapid vibration that encourages activity.

Answer 4

Classical Music does not have any different effect on the brain than any other type of music. So no, playing Mozart while your baby sleeps will not make him/her a genius.

Answer 5

It makes your brai relax.

And may also make you smarter.

Answer 6

Professionals recommend listening to classical music for babies because of the Mozart effect. A study had shown that college students who listened to Mozart before a test performed better.