| Although Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart may have | | | | reduces anxiety and stress in patients |
| passed away mysteriously his legacy still | | | | undergoing surgery. Amazingly Mozart's K448 |
| lives on in his music and the buzzword | | | | sonata has been found to decrease epileptic |
| "Mozart Effect" referring to an increase in | | | | attacks in humans and rats listening to it |
| brain development when listening to Mozart's | | | | are able to go through a maze faster than |
| music. | | | | those that were left in silence. |
| | | | Concomitantly, playing classical music to |
| It has always been known that sound | | | | children initiates positive physiological |
| environment has a good outcome on the feeling | | | | effects, low heart rate, low breathing rate, |
| of well being on people on various age | | | | and lower levels of the cortisol, the stress |
| groups. Unfortunately very little scientific | | | | hormone. In sports psychology, music has been |
| work has been carried out to investigate | | | | used to aid runners and baseball players |
| behaviour changes in relative to use of | | | | during their warm-ups, to enhance performance |
| music. However in recent years there has been | | | | by increasing focus and reducing stress. Most |
| growing interest in the therapeutic use of | | | | probably all classical music in general could |
| music for stress relief. Several properly | | | | trigger the Mozart Effect. |
| conducted scientific experiments have | | | | |
| concluded that good music can affect the | | | | Good soothing music has no side-effects and |
| neurochemical transmissions leading to | | | | is highly good for people leading to reduced |
| positive outcome on the brain at all periods. | | | | anxiety and stress levels. It also induces |
| Currently one experiment is being conducted | | | | increased memory, reduces emotional stress, |
| to figure out if classical music such as of | | | | depression, anxiety, agitation and promotes |
| Mozart can affect stress levels, heart rate, | | | | good immune system, decreases cortisol levels |
| motor activity, mood and vital signs in | | | | and increase well-being. Above all it can be |
| premature babies. This will be done by using | | | | applied everyday and is virtually free. |
| a monitoring device and video camera to | | | | Health professionals can teach patients about |
| indicate the reactions of the infants to | | | | the power of music so that it can lead to |
| effect of music. Interestingly premature | | | | decrease in negative mood, stress and |
| newborns that are being exposed to music have | | | | depression, and promote feelings of well |
| reduced symptoms of stress and gain weight | | | | being and relaxation. It is important we |
| faster. | | | | develop and investigate the power of such non |
| | | | traditional and non-pharmacological |
| Another study showed that when music is being | | | | therapeutic modalities taking into |
| played in the background it can relieve | | | | consideration its ease and practicality in |
| stress in a hospital setting; as music | | | | daily practice. |