Molecular basis for Mozart effect revealed

April 26, 2004 | Source: NewScientist.com

New research has revealed a molecular basis for the “Mozart effect” — the observation that Mozart’s music may improve learning and memory.

The study showed that rats that heard a Mozart sonata expressed higher levels of genes involved in stimulating and changing the connections between brain cells in their hippocampus: BDNF, a neural growth factor; CREB, a learning and memory compound; and synapsin I, a synaptic growth protein.