There is a growing body of evidence for the positive effects of music on patients with epilepsy. Scientific alert reported that Mozart’s Sonata for two pianos in D major (K448) calmed the epileptic brain, although little is known about the mechanism behind the therapeutic power of the Mozart effect.

The team tested 16 patients with epilepsy who did not respond to medication and observed how their brains would respond to Mozart’s sonata. The patients were happy to know that a non-invasive method could be used for the treatment. Prior to this study, Mozart’s sonata was already known for its effects on cognition and other brain activities.

Listening to Mozart’s Sonata reduces epileptic seizures

Previous research has suggested a complex relationship between music and epilepsy. Some even triggered a crisis, but not Mozart’s Sonata for two pianos in D major (K448). According to Genetic engineering and biotechnology news, several studies reported that Mozart’s sonata could reduce ictal and interictal epileptiform activity or also known as epileptiform discharges.

The study, entitled “Important musical components for the Mozart k448 effect in epilepsy, “Posted in Scientific reports of nature, was designed to compare the effects of listening to Mozart’s sonata or Haydn Symphony No.94 in the emergency room of epilepsy patients.

The researchers noted that they chose Haydn’s music because it had a musical style similar to Mozart’s sonata from the same period. In addition, the two musics cause similar emotional effects. They believe that the similarity of music between the two composers would reveal common characteristics and differences that would explain the effect of music on DE.

But in addition to confirming the effects of Mozart’s sonata, the team also wanted to analyze the acoustic characteristics of the two pieces of music by the two composers. They wanted to confirm that the properties of music can explain the antiepileptic effects of music.

They found significant differences when patients listened to Mozart’s sonata and when they listened to Haydn No. 94. Patients with epilepsy listening to Mozart’s sonata had a 32% decrease in ED, while those listening to Haydn’s No. 94 experienced a 45% increase.

The team also said that men and women reacted differently to the two pieces of music. Haydn’s number 94 only removed emergencies for women, but increased emergencies for men. This shows that the acoustic characteristics of the musical composition have a different effect on men and women.

READ ALSO: New Study Finds Music Training Does Not Make A Child Smarter

Confirm the Mozart effect on patients with epilepsy

The researchers initially hypothesized that the Mozart effect is related to the emotional effects of music, such as when the neurotransmitter dopamine was released by the brain’s reward system when listening to music.

But the team did not observe direct evidence of the mechanism. They suggested that the Mozart effect could not be explained by the release of dopamine because the patients were not music connoisseurs and even declared emotional indifference to the music of Mozart and Haydn.

The team noted that the reduction in ED in ED was greatest in the lateral temporal lobe, the part of the brain responsible for an emotional response to music. Therefore, Mozart’s sonata did not invoke more pleasure in patients than Haydn’s No. 94. This means that the acoustic characteristics of Mozart’s sonata affected brain activity which reduced erectile dysfunction in patients with epilepsy.

The team recommends further research, especially long-term randomized controlled studies on the positive effects of music in patients with epilepsy.

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