LONG
suffering parents of adolescents might not agree, but scientists claim
that listening to rock music can boost your brain power.
Researchers at a Scottish university believe that the sound of
guitar-based rock such as Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC and the Red Hot Chili
Peppers improves concentration and boosts memory.
Contrary
to received wisdom, children who listen to loud rock or pop music while
swotting for exams are probably improving their chances of success.
The finding follows claims that listening to classical music, particularly Mozart, can improve performance in cognitive tests.
Recent studies suggested that The Mozart Effect can lead to
permanent changes in brainpower among young children. The findings have
spawned a multi-million-pound industry in classical music CDs designed
to boost children’s intelligence.
In the new study, Dr Leigh Riby and George Caldwell, cognitive
psychologists at Glasgow Caledonian University, set out to find out
whether The Mozart Effect applies to other types of music.
The researchers monitored the brain activity of a group of 16
volunteers who were asked to perform a simple memory test while
listening to rock and classical music. They were asked to do the same
while listening to the sound of static and again in silence.
The volunteers were played Beethoven’s 2nd symphony and a piece by Steve Vai, the virtuoso rock guitarist.
While the classical music improved the concentration and memory
of both groups, rock music also had a significant effect on the
cognitive performance of the rock fans. Brain scans revealed that they
required far less brainpower to complete the test successfully.
“We wanted to investigate whether more contemporary music
would have a similar effect and chose rock as an extreme example,” said
Riby.
“What we found was surprising. While classical music appears
to have an effect on everybody, we also found that there is a
significant effect on people exposed to their favourite type of music.
“Those played rock music required less mental energy to carry
out the task successfully. I would expect to see a similar effect with
pop fans played pop music or anyone else exposed to their favourite
type of music. The music primes the brain to perform certain tasks more
efficiently.
“What we are examining now is whether certain passages or
certain instruments have a greater effect than others. We will be
examining every millisecond of the brain scans to pinpoint what it is
about classical and rock music that is having this effect.”
Vai, who has performed alongside Frank Zappa, Ozzy Osbourne
and the former Van Halen singer Dave Lee Roth, said he was delighted by
the findings, published in the current edition of Consciousness and
Cognition, the science journal. “What this test shows is that it’s
important not to exclude any music having an emotional impact or
educational value,” he said. “What we hear has the potential to change
the way we think because it changes our moods.”
While both classical and rock music have been shown to boost
brainpower, they have also been used to discomforting effect. Earlier
this year Luton council began playing classical music in the town
centre to drive away problem youths. In 1989 the American army played
AC/DC at high volume to force the Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega
out of hiding.
Previous studies have shown that rock music improved the work
rate of people collecting stock market statistics and can have a
positive effect on the brain chemistry of depressed teenagers.
. Main reason is they have pretty much used up everything in their bag of tricks. Takuro, as the main composer, isn't as productive and outstanding as he was before. Their latest stuff, still maintain typical GLAY quality but they can't go further....
