 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: AET
Date: 2004-06-26 00:05
Nearing the end of the school year we had a large research/debate paper in speech. We were to select something that is... debatable... I chose that some sort of "music class" should be required in a students curriculum. Simply that it increases retention, knowledge, etc...
We, of course, were to get our peers attention and show them "Hey, I know what i'm talking about..." I read about an experiment on the internet involving rats (gerbils in my case) and classical music, so I used it for my "attention grabber" and repeated the experiment myself.
I had thirty gerbils (No, I do not have thirty gerbils running around my house, I borrowed them from science teachers throughout the school) and I ran them through a homemade maze, gathered their mean time, and then split them in three groups. They were each exposed to three types of music... I played Anthrax in one group, one of Mozarts piano sonata (of course...) to the other, and the third to nothing.
When they all went through the maze the average was 22:14 minutes.
The "no music" mice (10 of the thirty) had an average of 25:54.
The "Anthrax" mice (10 of remaining 20) had and average of 31:34.
The "Mozart" mice (10 of remaining 10 : ) ) had an average of 17:23.
They didn't have a huge difference from the starting number of 22:14 but it still showed they responded quicker and retained the correct "route". ( I don't know if gerbils can really retain information....)
It may be just luck but it still worked along with my debate topic so I was pleased.
Do you think music increases knowledge, retention and such things?
Post Edited (2004-06-26 00:21)
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2004-06-26 00:31
Very nice job! Its great how you were able to set up an experiment like that by yourself.
On this board, we've had at least two seperate discussions on this interesting topic within the past year or so. Try to go search for "Mozart Effect".
Post Edited (2004-06-26 00:32)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-06-26 00:39
Nice, but I can't help but wonder about unintentional biasing, environmental effects, etc...
Did you put all ten no-music, then all ten anthrax, then all ten mozart, or did you put them in at random?
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: AET
Date: 2004-06-26 00:44
EEBaum...
I don't think I understand the question you are asking... Hmm...
I put 20 of the "other mice" away while I played the music (or no music) and then each mouse went through the maze. I then gathered the data to get the mean... Does that answer it?
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Author: Henry
Date: 2004-06-26 01:45
This test surely tickles my brain.
The results are not hard to explain.
Us humans and gerbils are not far apart.
Our genomes are almost the same, for a start.
And Anthrax causes cross-species pain.
Henry
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2004-06-26 01:57
The book "Mozart Effect" details research done with plants, dairy cows, and preemie babies as well as with school children. The same positive benefits were found with each of these groups. I studied this book while doing research for the orchestra's education program and community outreach. I'd love to check into other books / research projects. I was told about "Mozart and the Fighter Pilot", but haven't read that one yet. For sure you can use other composers' music as well, but it depends, as not all classical compositions have the same effect on the brain.
It's a great field in which to do further research - especially when you're trying to convince teenagers that they can do their homework better without the loud, eargrating music playing full blast. Keep us informed about any further developments, would you?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-06-26 02:18
I guess it's no magic trick,
With Mozart, the gerbils ran quick.
So set them apart.
Take the ones that are smart,
And teach them the licorice stick. ....GBK
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Author: AET
Date: 2004-06-26 02:30
"For sure you can use other composers' music as well, but it depends, as not all classical compositions have the same effect on the brain."
- I have read that Mozarts music supposedly "peaks" around every 30* seconds and that cause the brain to "act differently". Also, music from the Baroque period has a "certain" affect on the brain... as I have read. (Of course all things and all music has an affect on the brain... But not always a positive one, which this music "has".)
Considering I'm only a highschool student and teenager myself... I don't think I have many further developments in my upcoming future... But with my interest in music and the psychological look at things, I may come up with something...?!
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-06-26 05:14
This is oddly similar to a year long project I have to do for next year at school. I'll have to remember it.
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2004-06-26 09:52
Not to be the grump in the group, but the evidence on the so called Mozart Effect is far from conclusive. A rather nice overview of it can be found at http://skepdic.com/mozart.html.
Besides the fact that no one seems able to duplicate the results of either the original research, which was badly flawed to begin with or any of the later reseach that supposedly shows the effect, a major problem is that virtually all the researchers who have reported positive results have vested financial interests.
One of the key laws of research is that you must be able to duplicate results. So far, that hasn't occured with any of the research thus far.
I think your gerbil experiment is very interesting but without knowing your exact methodology, I couldn't comment on your results. What would be interesting, I think, is to repeat the experiment under controlled supervision of a science teacher and see if you can duplicate the research with a different sample of gerbils. If your science teacher hasn't conducted any formal research projects, then I'd suggest contacting a nearby research facility or a local university faculity member for advice. Who knows, you just might get published!
Best
RW
Best
Rick
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-06-26 11:38
Rick,
"I'd suggest contacting a nearby research facility or a local university faculity member for advice. Who knows, you just might get published!"
As one of the university faculty members on the BB and an experienced researcher as well, AET needs to read the section on the experimental method found in most beginning research textbooks before going any further.
There are a significant number of biases and obvious problems in the research design and statitical analysis methodology that have been employed so far in AET's particular study. OK for speech class but ....
HRL
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