Mozart effect in preschool children?

Abstract

In 1993, Rauscher et al. reported a temporary increase in spatial–temporal ability after listening to Mozart’s music. This led to numerous replication and extension studies with mixed findings in the past decade. This study investigated the ‘Mozart effect’ in preschool children. Forty‐one boys and girls, aged three to five, attempted a series of pencil‐and‐paper maze tests after each of three listening conditions: Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A Major (K488), age‐appropriate popular music and silence. Overall, there were no statistically significant differences among the three interventions. The results are discussed in relation to the findings of other investigations of the Mozart effect, and the need for further investigation of possible trends.

Keywords:

• Mozart effect
• Early childhood
• Spatial ability
• Music