Communicating Science (2012w210)

Schizophrenia and the Biological Factors That Contribute To It

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Harleen Kalra | Leave a comment

Do you know that voice you hear in your head? The one you hear when you read? Or the one that has conversations of its own? We all have it. But now imagine that this voice isn’t your voice anymore. This voice has a life of its own. It tells you things you never thought of; it makes you believe that the people and the places you know are figments of your imagination; it makes you go crazy. This is the harsh reality of many schizophrenics.

A lot of us may have heard about schizophrenia, and a lot of us may know of it as simply meaning you’re crazy. The fancy definition of it is a “profound disruption of basic psychological processes.” Your reality is distorted; your thoughts and your behavior are disturbed. Symptoms of this include hallucination, disorganized speech, and catatonic behavior to name a few.

So how do you get it? Will a schizophrenic’s sneeze render you “crazy” as well? Well, no. As many of you may have guessed already, schizophrenia’s origins lie in biological factors, which include genetic factors, biochemical factors, and neuroanatomy.

Evidence for this conclusion lies in studies that show that the closer you are, biologically of course, in relationship to a person diagnosed with schizophrenia, the more likely you are to also develop the disorder. Furthermore, and this is perhaps some of the strongest proof, studies show that concordance rates are higher for identical twins in comparison to fraternal twins. This clearly shows us that genetics play a crucial role in the development of the disorder.

Neuroanatomy, in addition to genetics, is another biological factor that aids in the development of schizophrenia. With the help of neuroimaging techniques, researchers began to look for anatomical differences in people with the disorder. Early observations led them to discover the enlargements of ventricles – hollow areas lying deep within the core of the brain. The abnormal enlargement in some patients suggested a loss of brain tissue mass that could have occurred during prenatal development. However, this evidence is complicated and unreliable for many reasons. First, enlarged ventricles are only found in a few patients. Second, some individuals without the disorder are also found to have enlarged ventricles. Lastly, the enlargement of the ventricles can be caused by some types of antipsychotic drugs, prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia. Neuroimaging studies provide evidence of a variety of brain abnormalities in schizophrenia. A variety of specific brain changes found in other studies suggest a clear relationship between biological changes in the brain and the progression of schizophrenia.

The neuroanatomy of schizophrenics differs from those that do not.
Photo Researchers, Inc.

In addition to biological factors, the third factor that contributes to the development of schizophrenia is the presence of excessive dopamine – this is known to be the the dopamine hypothesis. The hypothesis explains why amphetamines, which increase dopamine levels, often aggravate the symptoms (Iverson, 2006). However, there is evidence that refutes this hypothesis, as many individuals do no respond well to dopamine blocking drugs. All in all, the accurate involvement of neurotransmitters in schizophrenia is yet to be determined.

This link discusses the dopamine hypothesis in detail while interviewing a patient

by itswhatson

Research on schizophrenia and its cure continue today, in the 21^st century. While we have made great progress, a lot remains to be discovered about this order that affects almost 51 million people in our world at one time.

Harleen Kalra

No More Fish in the Amazon in the Future?

Posted on February 4, 2013 by maggiechan | Leave a comment

The Amazon River (Cr: Chico75 via. Wikipedia Commons)

As humans continue to advance in technology and grow industrially, we are also emitting harmful substances to the environment. Over a long period of time, the environment around us will continue to worsen unless we become active and do something to stop it. After all, changes in the environment are slow and gradual processes, despite it being sped up in the past few decades.

A very basic look at the freshwater ecosystems. From Youtube user: greatpacificmedia.

Recently, researchers found that freshwater ecosystems in the Amazon are highly vulnerable to environmental degradation. Pollution, deforestation, construction of dams and waterways, as well as over-harvesting of plant and animal species are increasingly degrading the many types of ecosystems in the Amazon, including river, lake and wetland ecosystems. The different ecosystems take up approximately one-fifth of the Amazon basin area.

Man fishing from Amazon river (Cr: adrimcm via. Flickr)

The damage to the Amazon freshwater systems not only affects the balance to the environment, but also affects the Amazonians. They have historically been so dependent on the water system that they are called the ‘water peoples.’ The current consumption of fish per capita is approximately 94 kg/yr for the people who live by the rivers, which is about six times the world average. The size of the fish harvested have shrunk, mainly due to continual harvesting of high-value, large-bodied species. The difference in mean sizes (maximum body length) of fish today compared to fish from a century ago is about 126 cm. That is a huge difference.

While there has been many studies done in the Amazon, they are mainly focused on forests and their associated biodiversity and carbon effects. Three decades of research led to an establishment of protected areas, designed to protect the forest and the biodiversity. There is little attention paid to freshwater ecosystems, which is connected to other ecosystems through the water cycle.

An example of a hydro dam. The Three Gorges Dam in the Yangtze River in China (Cr. Rehman via. Wikipedia Commons)

The main threat to most of the Amazon freshwater ecosystems is the large-scale change to the area’s hydrology. There are a total of 154 hydroelectric dams working in the area, with 21 in construction and 227 more dams to be built in the future. Some researchers say that the amount of construction, if uncontrolled, will have a negative impact fish migration and the associated fishery yields. It will ultimately threaten life and food security.

For better protection of the Amazon freshwater systems, it requires people to actively include the water systems into the current forest-centric focus of environmental management. And while understanding the changes in the environment will help, it is probably better for our future if people become more active in environmental protection.

Maggie Chan

Salty Sea

Posted on February 4, 2013 by vivian09 | 1 comment

Ocean
Copyright: Best Wallpapers

Starting in the 1500s, many geologists began to estimate the age of the Earth using faulty sources and theories. For example, James Ussher estimated the age of the Earth to be over 6,000 years old based on the timelines given in the Bible and other historical events. One of the estimation that stood out was made by John Joly, an Irish geologist. In 1899, Joly published a paper estimating the age of the ocean, which he believed to be the same age as the earth, to be 90 million years old. He made his estimation based on his idea that the ocean started out fresh and as the Earth grew older, the ocean grew proportionally saltier also. However, this idea has been proven wrong today with our understanding of the ocean.

Process of Weathering and Evaporation
Copyright: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

There are many ways that the ocean gets saltier. For example, weathering, hydrothermal vents, submarine volcanoes, as well as evaporation of the ocean. The process of weathering is a condition caused by the sulfuric-containing rain falling on rocks and sediments that causes it to release minerals that are contained within. When these minerals are released from the rocks, they are then transported from the river to the ocean. This increases the overall salinity of the ocean. A second way to increase the salinity is from the hydrothermal vent sat the bottom of the seafloor.

Hydrothermal Vents
Copyright: USGS

At the hydrothermal vents, high pressure and high temperature causes the degradation of the sediments at the oceanic floors, which in turns releases minerals trapped within to the surrounding waters. Similarly, the submarine volcanoes releases minerals in the same way. Finally, the most well-known method to increase the salinity of the ocean is through evaporation of the ocean. When the ocean undergo evaporation on a hot day, it leaves behind the salts in the ocean while the water particles moves itself into the atmosphere. Therefore, evaporation is the most readily method to increase the salinity of the ocean and this is most evident in areas of high temperature.

Coccolithophore: an example of marine organism requiring calcium for shell
Copyright: Great Belt Research Cruise

While there are many ways to increase the salinity of the ocean, our ocean is not, by Joly’s theory, getting saltier with time. The reason for this is due to the plate tectonics movements as well as the circle of life of marine organisms. Firstly, when an oceanic plate collides with another continental plate, the oceanic plate tend to collide below the continental plate into the earth. When this happens, the salty minerals-containing sediments are buried deep within the Earth and therefore removing the salt in the ocean. However, the seafloor tectonic plates movement is also the cause for tsunami. Secondly, the ions in the ocean are required by marine organisms to survive. For example, these organisms require sodium to survive and calcium are needed to build skeletons and shells. When the organisms take up these ions, they also contribute to the removal of salts from the ocean. Therefore, although the ocean does get salty with time, as James Ussher predicted, the ocean also provides mechanisms that removes the salts. This is due to a phenomenon called the steady state where the ocean reaches an equilibrium between the rate of addition of salts and the rate of removal of salts.

This Youtube video demonstrate how the plate tectonic collides at the seafloor.

-Vivian Wu

1 Comment

Posted in Science Communication

Tagged Evaporation, Hydrothermal Vents, Ions, Ocean, Plate Tectonics, Salinity, Steady State, Submarine Volcanoes, Weathering

Did you eat breakfast today?

Posted on February 4, 2013 by eremandaban | 7 comments

For many students, midterms and the dreaded all-nighters are creeping just around the corner like a bad zombie movie. This can definitely make it quite difficult for some to maintain a regular eating pattern. Just the other day, I over slept my clock’s set alarm and had to skip breakfast just to sneak into a midterm I had that day. Although this is not the greatest of habits, this is certainly not an isolated case. Many people find it necessary to forgo their normally scheduled meals in order to meet important deadlines in school and work alike.

Mmmm, a typical american breakfast! Author: Jessica from Hove, American breakfast , via Wikimedia Commons

Is this even remotely healthy for us? Our grumbling stomachs tell us, “NO WAY!”

However, recent research done on intermittent fasting (IF) paints us a new and appealing picture of the issue. Intermittent fasting is an eating strategy that uses scheduled fasts before and after a daily feasting period where an entire day’s caloric requirements are typically consumed. These bouts of eating usually span from one to eight hours depending on an individual’s preferences.

An overview of intermittent fasting and its many variations (0:37-1:42). (attributed to Youtube user: Ian McCarthy)

In one study that explored the effect of meal frequency on the thermic effect of food (TEF), it was found that women consuming one large meal a day experienced higher TEF values than women who consumed the same amount of calories split into six meals. The TEF is the energy needed to store dietary nutrients and convert recently ingested food into useful metabolites. The researchers observed faster gastric emptying and nutrient absorption from subjects eating all their daily required calories in one sitting. This results in higher TEFs due to the fact that there are more nutrients in the blood available to be oxidized or stored. This implies that one can burn more energy in a day by simply condensing their calories into less meals per day.

Portion of a caloric dense meal. Author: Sgt. Drew Hendricks, via Wikimedia Commons

In another study of reduced meal frequency, it was noted that most signs of health remained the same regardless of the number of meals consumed by men and women. The measured heart rates, body temperatures and body weights did not significantly change when switching between eating strategies. While most factors remained constant, the fat mass between treatment groups did not. Participants of the study subjected to one meal per day experienced significant reductions in fat mass.

Comparison of varying visceral fat accumulation in men. Source: Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2000. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Although IF provides benefits for improving body composition, it also has relevance in preventative measures against diseases. When exploring the relationship between meal frequency and colorectal cancer, researchers discovered that those who ate four or more times a day had a two-fold elevated risk of incidence. The main reason behind this is the secretion of bile acids. Upon eating a meal, the gallbladder contracts and releases primary bile acids into the small intestine. Despite its involvement in the digestion of dietary fats, it also has a role in colorectal carcinogenesis. The bile secreted into the lumen acts as a promoter for colon tumors. It follows that by eating less frequently throughout the day, one can reduce their risk of colorectal cancer.

Spatial orientation of the colon. Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Intermittent fasting may even aid in promoting brain health and longevity. Studies on rodents subjected to a reduced meal frequency showed an increased production of ketone bodies. These chemicals have use as an energy source and can even provide some other benefits like neuroprotection and resistance to epileptic seizures. The experimenters noted a significant increase in the survival of neurons after injecting mice undergoing IF with seizure-inducing excitotoxins into their hippocampi.

While I don’t recommend intentionally skipping meals to obtain the benefits mentioned above, I do hope that the merits of fasting are slightly more apparent. Compensating for previously missed breakfasts, lunches or dinners with slightly less nutritional foods for the sake of sticking to a set schedule may do more harm than skipping the meal altogether!

-Earvin Remandaban

7 Comments

Posted in Biological Sciences

Tagged colorectal, Effect, Fasting, food, Frequency, Intermittent, Meal, Neuroprotection, Thermic

Ancient Earth’s Geochemistry Unveiled

Posted on February 4, 2013 by UBCFIZZisPhun | Leave a comment

Have you ever thought how Earth came to be as it is today? As far as scientists are concerned, Earth is very very very ancient.

From the time of its origin to present days, Earth has undergone continous modification. Continents have been flooded by vast seas. They also have ponderously drifted across the face of the globe and slowly collided with other landmasses to form lofty mountain ranges. Massive glaciers have buried vast tracts of forest and prairie.

Earth’s spectacular history deserves to be closely examined, for it permits us to see the future. We expect that many phenonmena of the past will happen again such as volcanic eruptions that caused great forests fires, unexpected earthquake that shook a whole city from peacful lives, and tsunami that washed and flooded a city of milions of people just to name a few

Radiometric dating data from various sampled rocks found on Earth and on other meteorites and planets pushed the history of the Earth as far back as roughly 4.56 billion Years ago. Earth formed around 4.54 billion (4.54×10⁹) years ago by accretion from the solar nebula. Volcanic out gassing likely created the primordial atmosphere, but it contained almost no oxygen and would have been toxic to humans and most modern life. Much of the Earth was molten because of extreme volcanism and frequent collisions with other bodies.

Image of southwest Greenland. (Credit: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, courtesy of NASA Visible Earth)

Scientists still have much to learn about the volcanism that shaped our archaic planet’s early history. Recently, new evidence from a team led by Frances Jenner of Carnegie Institution for Science demonstrates that some of the tectonic processes driving volcanic activity, such as those occurring today, has a history as early as 3.8 billion years ago. This groundbreaking work is published in Geology.

Upwelling of Earth’s mantle at mid-ocean ridges, as well as the eruption of new magmas on the seafloor, drive the continual tectonic activity of the oceanic crusts. As the oceanic crust drifts away from the mid-ocean ridges and cools it becomes denser than the underlying mantle. Over time the majority of this oceanic crust sinks back into the mantle, which can trigger more volcanic eruptions. This process is known scientifically as subduction and it takes places at plate boundaries.

Because volcanic eruptions that are triggered by subduction of oceanic crust are chemically different from those erupting at mid-ocean ridges and oceanic island chains, these differences between the chemistry of magmas generated at each of these tectonic environment provide “geochemical fingerprints” that can be used to try to identify the categories of tectonic activity dominated early in Earth’s history

New fossil sites and trace fossils are being discovered all the time – in part because it is getting easier to access remote areas of the planets… Sometimes as a result of new exposures being made accessible below retreating ice at the pole or even your backyard would be a place for new fossils.

As new discoveries are being made everyday, scientists are prepared to accept new and changing ideas regarding the evolution of the Earth System including the dynamic classrooms of SCIE 300 and their directed studies.

Nighty night~

Posted on February 3, 2013 by alicel23 | 2 comments

Have you ever wondered what’s going while you’re sleeping? Well the truth is there is a lot going on during the period of time you are asleep and it is divided into five stages. Using an electroencephalograph (EEG) we can determine the stage of sleep we are in.

A sleeping baby by oksidor via Flickr Creative Commons

Early stages of sleep prior to stage one:

Before phase one, our mind is relatively alert and therefore we experience hypnagogic hallucinations, such as experiencing the sensation of falling, and myoclonic jerks, an involuntary twitching of the muscles. Furthermore, our brain starts to produce small and fast waves known as beta waves. As the mind slowly beings to relax, slower waves called alpha waves are produced.

Stage one:

During this period, we are in the relatively light stage of sleep, and is often considered as the transition between being awake and falling asleep. It lasts for a brief amount of time, and usually when people wake up during this stage, they feel like they haven’t slept at all. The waves that are produced during this time is called theta waves, which are slow, high amplitude waves.

Stage two:

The body temperature starts to drop and heart rate slows down. At the same time the brain produces short periods of quick rhythmic waves known as sleep spindles.

Stage three:

This is the period between light sleep and deep sleep. Slow, deep waves called delta waves are produced.

Stage four:

Delta waves continue to be produced, therefore this period is also known as delta sleep. This stage typically lasts for about half an hour and we fall into a deep sleep. Generally bed-wetting and sleepwalking occurs during this stage.

Stage five:

This phase is commonly known as rap eye moment (REM) and we enter this stage approximately 90 minutes after falling asleep. Typically we enter REM sleep four to five times during the night, and each time the duration of REM sleep increases. During this period, the muscles become relaxed to a point where the body is paralyzed while respiration rate and brain activity increases. Due to the increase in brain activity, this is the time when most of our dreams occur.

Here is an example of what an EEG looks like:

EEG when awake and during the different stages of sleep via http://www.nature.com/nri/journal/v4/n6/fig_tab/nri1369_F1.html

Although the above EEG depicts the stages of sleep from stage one to five in order, the stages do not actually occur in this sequence. After falling asleep, we begin in stage one, and progress into stages two, three and four. After stage four, stages three then two is repeated prior to entering REM sleep. After REM sleep, we return to stage two. Throughout the night we cycle through the above sequence four to five times.

Below is a video about the five stages of sleep:

From YouTube user: Shannon Leigh

Now that you know more about the different stages of sleep, the next time you watch The Big Bang Theory and Sheldon mentions REM sleep, you’ll know what he’s talking about!

– Alice Lin

2 Comments

Posted in Biological Sciences

Tagged alpha waves, bed-wetting, beta waves, delta waves, EEG, electroencephalograph, hypnagogic hallucinations, myoclonic jerks, rapid eye movement, REM, Sleep, sleep spindles, sleepwalking, stage five, stage four, stage one, stage three, stage two, The Big Bang Theory, theta waves

End of the road for Gingers?

Posted on January 28, 2013 by laram05 | 1 comment

Should red heads around the world be in panic as reports of the extinction of their unique gene runs through the media? Should all gingers rush to mate with another ginger in fear of this theory?

The red hair gene first appeared thousands of years ago in northern Europe as a result of a genetic mutation in the MC1R gene. It was first reported that having the red headed gene increased the ability of the body to cope with sunlight as it allowed for more vitamin D in the body. However, carriers of the gene today are more sensitive to heat and cold, as well as, more likely to acquire skin cancer.

It is rare to spot red haired individuals; in fact, National Geographic reported that less than 2 percent of the world’s population today carries the gene for red hair. Genetic scientists are reporting that the “dying breed” will be basically extinct in the next 100 years. However, there seem to be experts that argue that the gene can merely be dormant for several generations before appearing once again.

Genetics at Work Image Gallery

The reason for the prediction of extinction is due the recessive nature of the gene. Both parents must pass on the recessive gene for the offspring to physically express red hair. However, we should all be aware that a couple does not have to both be red headed in order for their children to be the same. Two blondes, or brunettes also have the possibility of producing an offspring with that phenotype, as long as they are both heterozygous dominant for the gene.

Therefore, while there is a chance for a decline of red headed populations due to lower chances of a red headed individual pairing with another red headed partner, the potential of having red hair will not go away. For now, it is too early to determine that extinction of all redheads will occur.

-Maral Altanbadralt

1 Comment

Posted in Science in the News

Tagged extinct, mc1r, redhead

A dream is a wish your heart makes

Posted on January 28, 2013 by clarissangui | 5 comments

“A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you’re fast asleep.”

While most people will recognize this quote as a lyric from a classic Disney song, with all fluffiness aside, it turns out that there really is some scientific truth behind it. Despite the fact that we often remember very little from our dreams, we actually experience around three to seven of them each night. Lasting anywhere from a few seconds to as long as 20 minutes, these vivid sequences of images and ideas primarily appear throughout the mind during the rapid eye movement stage of sleep, where the eyes execute continuous movements and the brain is relatively active.

Although the content and purpose of dreams are not well understood, the ability to manipulate them can be achieved through lucid dreaming, a term invented by Dutch psychiatrist Frederik van Eeden. In this unique dream state, one is fully aware that they are dreaming, and possesses the ability to exert control over the content of their imaginary experiences to a certain degree. This occurs as a result of increased activity by the parietal lobes of the brain which allow it to be a conscious process.

Photo of Dutch psychiatrist Frederik van Eeden who coined the term “lucid dreaming”. Image obtained via wikimedia commons from user Michiel1972.

So who can lucid dream and what makes it worth doing? Well it turns out that anybody can. It simply requires effort. Aside from the idea that it would be rather neat to control or choose what we dream about, some people lucid dream for more serious and practical reasons. In this sense, studies have shown that the practice of lucid dreaming could ultimately make a person happier. For example, after a rough day, lucid dreaming could be the perfect remedy to relieve stress as it allows you to temporarily escape from reality into an ideal, fantasy world that is ultimately created by you.

In addition, a more sensible and perhaps more obvious use of lucid dreaming would be to simply stop a nightmare. During a nightmare, the power of lucid dreaming will lead you to realize that it is only a dream, and will subsequently allow you to either to wake up or turn the nightmare into something pleasant. With the ability to lucid dream, you can practically dream of anything you want!

Improve your Creativity by Having Lucid Dreams

See your imagination run wild in a lucid dream. Image obtained via Flickr Creative Commons from user gerardoalmaraz.

Now the question is, how do we initiate a lucid dream? Here is a short video by YouTube user AsapSCIENCE that highlights and explains some of the major steps that must be followed in order to successfully achieve a lucid dream.

With a little bit of practice, you will soon be able to dream of that unrealistic life you’ve always longed for (literally), where you’re happily married to either Ryan Gosling or Scarlett Johansson, or studying at Hogwarts. So start now and dream away!

– Clarissa Ngui

5 Comments

Posted in Public Engagement, Science Communication

Tagged dreams, lucid dreams, psychology, REM sleep, Sleep

Possible Clinical Benefits of Yoga

Posted on January 28, 2013 by alexgibson18 | 3 comments

There are many myths among the general public regarding yoga. For example, some believe that yoga is only for those who are super flexible, or perhaps, only for women. I’m writing this to convince you that these myths are very false, and as it turns out yoga may hold some other lesser known benefits for its practitioners.

Yoga Pose By Lululemon Athletica via Wikimedia Commons

Yoga is a good way to improve on flexibility, it can help you with breathing as well as core strength. However, did you know that it may be able to help you lift you mood or help you sleep? A review of 16 recent studies found that yoga could help those who suffer from depression as well as those who complain of sleep problems. The studies suggested that yoga was able to influence chemical messengers in the brain, inflammation in the body, and other biological processes that influence us.

The way yoga influences our mood is by the effect it has on GABA. Low GABA levels in the body are associated with depression and other anxiety disorders. A study was performed on a group of people who regularly attended yoga classes and compared these people who went on walks instead. The study found that people who were doing yoga had higher GABA levels than those who walked, even though the two groups were burning similar amounts of calories. Also, it was found that these same people also reported a better overall mood and general well being compared to the walkers.

Health Benefits of Yoga by CTV Edmonton

When hormones in the body are out of sync, many processes we take for granted can get thrown out of whack. For example, Cortisol (AKA “the stress hormone”) can have many negative effects on our body. It has been known to increase blood pressure, decrease immune function, impair cognitive function, increase abdominal fat, as well as a laundry list of other symptoms. Many of these problems can be treated by prescription pharmaceuticals. However, there is also one other widely recommended treatment for all of these problems……you guessed it, yoga!

For those of you out there looking for a new form of exercise that isn’t as high impact as running, or simply just looking to lead a healthier lifestyle, yoga could be the thing for you. It is not just the slow exercise solely for holistic women that everyone seems to think it is. It has become more popular in recent years because of its health benefits becoming known by the general public. I have recently taken to doing yoga a few times a week, and i can vouch for its efficacy. It’s a great way to get into a more healthy lifestyle for all of you out there who are falling behind on those new years resolutions.

– Alex Gibson

3 Comments

Posted in Science in the News

Tagged Depression, Healthy life style, Sleep quality, Yoga

Mozart or No Mozart

Posted on January 28, 2013 by vivian09 | 3 comments

Musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Copyright: Wallsfree.com

Without scientific proofs, many people tend to correlate the learning of Mozart’s compositions to an increase in intelligence in newborns. One of the most apparent example is that parents often play Mozart’s composition to their newborn with the hopes that their child will become smarter. This is commonly known as the Mozart effect. The Mozart effect was first introduced in 1991, but it did not become a popular topic two years later when this idea was published in a journal by Nature, a science journal. Since the publication of this journal, many people began advertising CDs and online audio of Mozart’s music. For example, in 1998, the governor of the state of Georgia in the United States placed aside a certain budget so each newborn babies will be sent a classical CD. Similarly, when a psychologist named Sergio Della Sala visited a farm in Italy, he learned that the farmer plays Mozart three times a day for the cows to help them produce better milk. While there are many examples of the Mozart effect, there has not yet been any scientific reasonings behind this theory.

Child with Headphone
Copyright: Wallpapers Craft

Although the Mozart effect is still very popular, some studies done did not support the Mozart’s effect. For example, in 2006, a large study involving eight thousand children ages 10 to 11 was conducted in Britain. These children listened to mozart’s string quintet in D major, a discussion on a certain topic, and or a sequence of three pop songs: “Country House” by Blur, “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison, and “Stepping Stone” by PJ and Duncan. Following the experiment, participants were given series of mental tasks to complete. The most common task asked the participants to look at folded pieces of paper with different cuts in them and they are then asked to predict the appearance of the paper when it is unfolded. In this particular experiment, the results were that the children who listened to series of pop music did better than the children who listened to Mozart. Furthermore, studies focused solely on the Mozart group showed that the effect of listening to Mozart to increase intelligence is only temporary. In reality, the Mozart effect only last 15 minutes on average. This caused many questions concerning the Mozart effect and whether listening to Mozart’s music really improves intelligence in newborn and children.

Play me a song, Baby
Copyright: dearbabyblog.com

With studies failing to support the Mozart’s effect, other studies began to question the failure as well as to derive new conclusion based on old data. An explanation for rejecting the Mozart’s effect is that instead of listening to Mozart, any stimulus to the brain can allow us to perform better. In addition, it is more favorable to stimuli the brain with something that interest the participants for maximum results. Furthermore, a study conducted by Jessica Grahn, a scientist from Western University, Ontario, suggests that to increase long-term intelligence, learning music instruments in one year is able to increase one’s IQ by as much as three points. Thus, the era of the Mozart effect was proven to be over and the era of learning new instruments began.

Youtube video on today’s parenting and their views on the Mozart’s effect. “The Mozart Effect? Sooo 90’s. Now introducing…The DoReMi Effect!” Copyright to CreativityMobile

– Vivian Wu

3 Comments

Posted in Biological Sciences, Public Engagement, Science Communication, Science in the News

Tagged Brain, Children and Newborns, health, Mozart's Effect, Music, Science and Environment