To enhance the power of autosuggestion, scientists introduced the sounds of Nature such as the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, the ripples and the bubbling noise of running water in the brooks, and the sound of the waves along the shore. It is now proven that the sounds of Nature resonate with the human body and has a sound frequency that calms, heals, and stimulate the brain and the whole body to function perfectly.

I bought some of these audio tapes and experienced it myself. They are indeed soothing and relaxing to the mind. The more I used it, the more my thinking became clearer, and my moods became brighter and my attitude in life became more positive.

Another very powerful tool that is being used today in auditory stimulation of the brain is classical music. Among the classical music that have been found effective in stimulating the brain are those of Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach. Listening to classical music can improve intelligence in children, and heal some ailments in newborn babies. Scientists call this Mozart Effect.

This Mozart Effect has been the subject of research in neurotechnology. This is a branch of science which deals with the study and modification of the functions of the nervous system by the use of sensory stimulations. More neurotechnology companies are now involved in researches on how to tap and put to better use the tremendous power that is lying dormant in the brain of every individual.

One of these companies is the Advanced Brain Technologies. It is a neurotechnology company that develops and distributes interactive software and music-based programs for the improvement of memory,  brain health, sensory processing, academic skills, peak performance and more. One of these programs is The Listening Program (TLP) which uses psychoacoustically modified classical music to improve children’s, teens’ and adults’ memory, learning skills, attenltion, listening, reading, communication, sensory processing, social engagement, brain fitness, and many more. TLC is a very effective tool in Speech language music therapy. All you need is a 15 to 30 minutes listening daily at home, classroom or workplace. This program stimulates the different functions of the auditory system to enable the brain to receive, process, store and utilize valuable information provided through sounds in music, language,  and the environment.

I am a lover of classical music. I like Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Strauss, and others. I am refreshed and invigorated whenever I hear classical music. During my work stint in Abu Dhabi, after every day’s work in the desert, I listen to classical music to refresh my body and mind.  I usually listen to Beethoven especially the baroque ones. They are good for the body and mind, and improves hearing too.

Most of classical music have beneficial effects for physical and mental health. The most famous among these is the Mozart Effect. Listening to Mozart can reduce the number of seizures in person afflicted with a rare form of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Mozart’s K448 piano sonata improve learning and mathematical skills, and increases spatial IQ by 8 to 9 points.

Listening to classical music such as Mozart reduces stress, and arthritic pains, and improves eyesight too. It has a very soothing effect on heart beat, and may be helpful in heart diseases. The study showed that listening to Mozart or Bach lowered the  heart rate and its variability.

Classical music calms the mind to normalize heart beat and blood pressure. It is now confirmed by more scientists that listening to Mozart, Bach and other classical music have beneficial effects on the mind and the whole body in general.

Some studies showed that listening to Mozart can help epileptics. Seizures were significantly reduced after listening to a Mozart piece for 45 minutes a day.

This “Mozart effect” is also said to enhance fetal development, improve mathematical skills, learning, and increase the spatial IQ. It was also noted that listening to Mozart reduces stress, and arthritic pains, and improves eyesight.

The original research on Mozart-effect looked at how the K448 piano sonata affects the  spatial IQ of a person. Volunteers were instructed to visualize correctly the unfolded shape of a piece of paper that had been folded many times. It was found out that those who listened to Mozart had a performance quantified to be equivalent to an increase of eight to nine points in IQ.

It is theorized that this improvement in performance is due to the stimulation and warming up of the areas in the brain that are involved in the processing of music by those concerned with spatial perception.

Neurologists found out that a child with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy, had fewer seizures when exposed to Mozart’s K448 piano sonata for 10 minutes every hour. Another study found changes in brain activity in 23 out of 29 cases when Mozart was played.

According to Dr John Hughes of the University of Illinois, this Mozart effect may be  similar to  pulsating electrical stimulation, that brings order to malfunctioning nerve cells in the brain. Mozart’s music is brilliantly complex, and highly organized, and the cerebral cortex seem to resonate with Mozart’s music to normalize any of its sub-optimal functioning.

Part of Mozart’s genius is his repetition of themes in a way that is not boring, but instead is engaging to the listener. He repeats a theme not necessarily with the same but different notes and at the same interval. This technique in musical composition is only unique in Mozart.

These repetition and periodic changes are also  found in all brain and bodily functions. It is this repetition that acts like repetitive electrical stimulation that creates the Mozart effect.

Researchers simulated this electrical stimulation by implanting electrodes in epileptic patients,  and found out a 95 percent reduction in seizures. Researches are being conducted to verify the same effect in listening to Mozart.

Mozart soothes the beating heart. A study on the effects of music on heart-rate variability showed that listening to music may be helpful in heart diseases. The study showed that listening to Mozart or Bach lowered the  heart rate and its variability.

Listening to Mozart may ease stress in newborn babies. Mozart was played to newborn babies to help them get over the trauma of birth, and doctors are running clinical trials to ascertain whether Mozart’s music can reduce stress, heart rate and motor activity in premature babies.

These are some of the many health benefits that can be derived from listening to Mozart. Besides the health benefits stated above.  Mozart music is also beneficial to plants and animals. Plants grow taller, and bear more fruits when Mozart music is played on them. Orchids and other flowering plants bloom faster, and aquarium fish become happy and lively when exposed to Mozart music.