Music, particularly Mozart, could have a therapeutic effect on epilepsy, say scientists. Short bursts of Mozart's Sonata K448 have been found to decrease epileptic attacks.Professor John Jenkins, who has reviewed the international research on music therapy, said it was very probable that work by other musicians could also trigger the "Mozart Effect."
Patients who had been exposed to 10 minutes of the music were then tested and just 10 minutes exposure improved their spatial skills, such as paper cutting and folding. Studies on rats showed that those that had listened to the K448 sonata were able to negotiate a maze faster than those that had been played minimalist music or left in silence.In other tests, children who were taught a keyboard instrument for six months, learning simple melodies, including Mozart, did better on tests than children who had spent their time working with computers. The left side of the brain tends to process rhythm and pitch and the right looks after timbre and melody.
Andrew Potter, chair of the PRS, said: "There has always been anecdotal evidence of other benefits deriving from music and here is a study which brings that evidence together from its original authoritative sources to help music organisations of all kinds provide cogent answers."
