| How Music Exercises the Brain (and Why) | |
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Email Me Music is a universal language. it reaches across all countries, cultures, and generations. Not only that; it also improves our ability to learn. Recently, two scientists working in California have explored the link-between music and intelligence. These studies have shown that music dramatically enhances-the abstract reasoning skills-of children. Abstract reasoing skills play a key role-in learning math and science. In fact, when it comes out-to helping children learn-music actually beats out computer training. These scientists were the psychologist-Dr. Frances Rauscher and the physicist Dr. Gordon Shaw. On one ground breaking study, three groups of pre-schoolers were used. One of these groups received piano and singing lessons, the second group received computer lessons; the third group received no lessons. The group with the music lessons attained a score 34% higher-on tests measuring spatial-temporal ability-than did the other two groups. Even just listening to music can improve one's ability to learn-and to process information. This is also true for adults. The studies are now collectively referred to as "The Mozart effect." In an additional experiment, one group of students listened to 10 minutes of Mozart-before taking exams. These studens obtained much higher marks-than did the other students. These findings are significant-because spatial intelligence is crucial-to higher brain functions-such as mathematics, engineering, and even chess. These results may change the way-that educators-and parents-view the role-of music-making. Young students often have trouble grasping the concept of proportion(heavily used in science.) So far, no successful program has been devised-in the school system-to teach these concepts. Evidence shows that music training would exercise that part of the brain-that would enable students-to grasp these concepts. Rauscher and Shaw are also indebted (in part) to the studies-that have been pouring out of neuroscience laboratories-in North America. It has been proved-that a child's very early experiences-will determine which neurons(nerve cells)will connect with other neurons-and also which ones will wither away. Neural connections are responsible for all types of intelligence. For this reason, a child's brain develops its full potential only when exposed(in early childhood)to enriching experiences.(Such experiences should include music.) To summarize: music develops the neural circuitry-that governs spatial intelligence-and abstract reasoning. It also produces long-term gains-involving additional aspects of learning. -Vaughan Evans |
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