DEBUNKED: The Babies Exposed to Classical Music End Up Smarter

Figure 1: Child wearing headphones

With the holiday season approaching, we can see the power that music has. As holiday music can help brighten up our mood and get ourselves into the spirit of giving, we can think about what else music can do. This curiosity is detailed in the Mozart effect—the belief that babies listening to classical music like Mozart will become smarter. Even though it would be amazing for just listening to music to boost our intelligence, this effect isn’t true and misrepresents what music can truly do for the brain! Let's break down this myth by explaining where the myth comes from, what music can actually do, and what the harm that spreading the myth causes. 

The Origin 

The Mozart effect originated from a study in 1993 titled “Music and Spatial Task Performance” by Dr. John C. McLachlan. College students who were either placed into the music condition where they listened to a Mozart piece for 10 minutes or the silence condition where they sat in silence for 10 minutes. Afterwards, they completed abstract/spatial reasoning tasks: pattern analysis test, multiple choice matrix test, and paper-folding and cutting multiple choice test. Participants in the music condition had a better performance on spatial reasoning tasks.⁽¹⁾ 

However, there are limitations to how the study can apply to the Mozart effect. The participants are college students, but the myth surrounds babies. Additionally, the results got overgeneralized to classical music making people smarter overall rather than spatial reasoning tasks. 

The Power of Classical Music 

Just because the Mozart effect is proven false, it should not discredit the benefits of classical music on the brain. 

Enhance Neural Plasticity 

Listening to classical music can enhance neural plasticity, the ability to adapt and change based on our experiences.⁽²⁾  Long-exposure to classical music can thicken our cerebral cortex, especially the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex that is responsible for language memory, and emotional regulation.⁽²⁾ The connections in the areas become stronger and our brain’s network is strengthens. 

Even though the myth pertains to listening to music, there are benefits for playing musical instruments as well. People who have received musical training have more neural activity in motor control, auditory processing, and language processing areas.⁽²⁾ As playing music can be a complex task by having to focus on rhythm, harmony, and melody, it can allow for cross-regional collaboration and connections throughout the brain.⁽²⁾

Enhance Cognitive Abilities 

There are a variety of cognitive abilities and tasks that classical music can help with. It has been shown to improve working memory, which is an important skill for decision making, problem solving, and understanding language.⁽²⁾ For instance, listening to Mozart improved accuracy and efficacy in math or language comprehension tasks.⁽²⁾

Alongside working memory, listening to classical music can improve attention and focus. Keeping the music on as background noise can help people maintain alertness and concentration even during long-term tasks.⁽²⁾ Having sustained attention can allow for more effective task completion. 

Improve Emotional Regulation

Classical music can help alleviate negative emotions like depression, anxiety, and stress. It can stimulate the brain’s reward system and promote feelings of pleasure.⁽²⁾ One neurotransmitter that is positively impacted by music is dopamine, which is involved in emotional regulation, learning, memory, and reward mechanisms.⁽²⁾ Listening to classical music can significantly increase dopamine levels and improve these cognitive functions.⁽²⁾ The pleasure and emotional stability brought on can increase motivation to learn and concentration when doing tasks.⁽²⁾ Overall, we can see the importance of classical music for brain function and mental health. 

Why the Myth Is Harmful (Beyond Just Being Wrong)

Although the myth has been widely discredited, a variety of products like CDs, books, and videos are made that profit off this myth. However, there are other activities that children can be involved in to improve their cognitive abilities. 

Music education in schools can be extremely underfunded under the rationale that they are not seen as a “necessity” and can waste time where they are not being educated. When looking at the scientific research, we can see a variety of cognitive benefits for listening and playing music. This can be especially prevalent for children who are building their foundation of cognitive skills through school. The neuroplasticity can have long-lasting effects into adulthood as the years from lessons was significant compared to the years of lessons.⁽³⁾  When entering the holiday season, think about how listening to music can be an important cognitive tool. 

Sources:

1. McLachlan (1993) Music and Spatial Task Performance 

2. Duan (2025) The Impact of Classical Music on Brain Cognitive Functions has been Confirmed by a Number of Neuroscientific Studies

3. Skoe & Kraus (2012) A Little Goes a Long Way: How the Adult Brain Is Shaped by Musical Training in Childhood