It's a phenomenon that suggests that kids will grow up to be more intelligent if they've been listening to classical music in the womb.
But not only in that case - classical music in general was thought to improve the performance and spatial ability.
This study sparked many other experiments and studies - with different results.
In 2013, psychologists of the Harvard University concluded that the music had only little influence on the intelligence.
The test results varied only a little bit and were not significant enough to be counted as crucial.
Researchers from the University of Helsinki conducted a study where the subjects listened to one of Mozart's compositions for 20 minutes.
It seemed that listening to the music stimulated certain genes that are in charge of releasing and transporting Dopamine (our "Happy Hormone").
The researchers also found out that those genes were influencing the subject's learning- and memory abilities, as well as the synaptic neurotransmission.
But this happened mostly with subjects that were already trained in music or had some experience with it.
In an Interview, the leading scientist of the Group (Irma Järvelä) stated her opinion about this phenomenon: She said that they mostly found effects in subjects that were either used to classical music or enjoyed it. Others, who disliked classical music or were very unfamiliar with it, didn't have results that were as significant.
The study has also shown that there is an evolutional link between the sound perception of humans and songbirds:
Both inherit the gene α-Synuclein (SNCA).
Järvelä answers this question by saying that the group was looking at the factors that would influence human diseases.
"In genetics, we have genes and then we have environmental effects. Our genes do not always tolerate our environment - when you think of carcinogenics, for example - and this kind of crosstalk between genes and the environment is also present in music. I was interested in this interaction between the environment and studying music, or listening to music." - Irma Järvelä
Järvelä also agreed that they should repeat the study with different musical genres as well, for example Jazz, because it leaves a lot of room for creative imagination.
Also, since we already learned that the effects are stronger if the subjects likes the style of music, this might show different results for different demographic or ethnical groups.
It can calm us down, give us a better ability to focus, take our mind off of things or remember something.
Music can always change your mood (for the better or for the worse) and can either relax or stimulate our body and mind.
© Sirwinchester
