Unconvincing evidence that rats show a Mozart effect
- ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Kenneth M. Steele Ph.D., Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- Appalachian State University (ASU )
- Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/
Abstract: F. H. RAUSCHER, J. D. ROBINSON, AND J. J. JENS (1998)
REPORTED that rats learned to complete a T-maze more
quickly if they had been reared listening to a Mozart
piano sonata. They interpreted this result as a demonstration
of a “Mozart effect” in rats. Steele (2003) compared
rat and human audiograms, in the context of piano
note frequencies, and suggested that rats were deaf to
most of the notes (69%) in the sonata. Steele concluded
that the learning differences among the groups were not
due to a Mozart effect. Rauscher (2006) argued for the
use of a different rat audiogram which would increase the
number of notes potentially heard to 57%. This is not a
refutation of Steele’s conclusion that rats would not hear
major portions of the sonata. These missing portions will
deform the music structure heard by the rats. Whatever
the rats hear, it is not the sonata written by Mozart.
Additional comments are made about the current status
of the Mozart-effect literature with human subjects.
Unconvincing evidence that rats show a Mozart effect
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Steele, K. M. (2006). Unconvincing evidence that rats show a Mozart effect. Music Perception, 23(5): 455-458. Published by the University of California Press (ISSN: 0730-7829).
- Language: English
- Date: 2006