The Effect of Classical Music on Speed and Memory in Mice

ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY ECHAGUECAMPUS

Group 1

AlaineDanicaDimaandal

MarygraceQuilpa

MarygraceBaldonado

Michelle Ann Juan

Sheri Ann Dionson

Christian Alcanar

Joshua Calacal

Trisha ClarisseBollecer
Introduction

Operant conditioning is considered a form of associative learning. This type of learning is based
on a trial and error system. Behavior is changed through making an association between two
items. An example could be an animal receiving a treat if they finish running in maze correctly,
as was done in this experiment. When conditioning an animal, there is a period of learning or
forming the association which is illustrated in a learning curve in order for the animal to maintain
the conditioned behavior, they must have continuous reinforcement. Otherwise the behavioral
response will decrease to the point where it becomes extinct or the animal no longer forms the
association between the reward and the activity (Paulsen, 2008). The theory known as the Mozart
effect states that listening to Mozart for 10-15 minutes is supposed to increase spatial
intelligence. The increase in intelligence does not last longer than 10-15 minutes. Originally, this
result are due to enjoyment arousal which is caused by listening to any kind of music if the
listeners do enjoy this music, this effects would not have happened. This opinion is contradicted
in experiment with rats which compared Mozart music versus Phillip Glass. The rats that listened
to Mozart finish the maze quicker and with fewer errors than the other groups. Thus, this
experiment provided evidence that the increase in intelligence is directly due to Mozart (Jenkins,
2001). The rat experiment is the inspiration of a group of researchers to test the Mozart effect on
a group of mice learning a maze. In the mice experiment, the mice would be exposed to the
music 30 minutes a day. The result from this experiment support this theory because the mice in
the Mozart group display lower working times as well as committing fewer errors (Jones, 2005).
There has been an experiment performed by a high school student, David Merrill, using mice. In
his experiment, he tests the effects Mozart and Rock and Roll on the learning of a maze by mice.
His results supported the Mozart effect because the average groups time went from ten minutes
in the beginning to 1-2 minutes. The rock and roll groups average time went from 10 minutes in
the beginning up to 30 minutes. Also these mice tried to kill one another during the experiment.
On the other hand, the group which is exposes to silence experiences a decrease in time from 10
minutes in the beginning to 5 minutes in the end (Nagel, 2003). It is from these experiments of
the Mozart effect which we decided to test the effects of classical music.
Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to determine the effect of classical music on speed and
memory in mice. Specifically, it aims to determine the significant difference between the
performance of both subjects in the control group and experimental group.

Hypotheses

The hypothesis is that there is no significant effect of classical music on speed and memory in
mice. The second hypothesis is that there is no significant difference between the performance of
both subjects in the control group and experimental group.

METHODOLOGY

The present experiment was conducted to examine the effect of classical music on speed and
memory in mice. The entire experiment was conducted at Experimental room in College of Art
and Sciences, Isabela State University. Two mice were randomly selected and divided into 2
groups. Within each group, the mice were identified by the color of mark that we placed on their
back. For different colored sharpies were used: red for experimental, no mark for the control
group. Group 1 which is the Experimental group was given a classical composer Amadeus
Mozart, while group 2 was used as the control.

One maze was used for the experiment. The walls of the maze was constructed from 2x2
plywood. The pieces were nailedtogether and placed on the table. The correct pathway of both
mazes included four turns. The turns in the maze consisted of a right, left, left, right pattern. The
reward was the piece of Eden cheese placed at the finish point. Before music was introduced, all
mice individually ran the maze twice a day, a total of 30 minutes for four days. Stopwatch was
used to time their performance. Time began when they place on the maze at the starting point,
and ended when they reach the cheese at the finish point. After their performances ceased to
continue to improve, which we concluded to be after the 8th trial, we introduced music.
Experimental group listened to their assigned music (classical music) approximately 15 minutes
during the day and no treatment for the control group. After the music was introduced, the
subjects will be placed again in the maze and will be performing the same task.
DATA GATHERED

GROUP 1st Trial 2nd Trial 1st Actual Test 2nd Actual Test
(Familiarization) (Familiarization)
Experimental 8 min and 5 sec 2 min and 25 sec 1 min and 5 sec 25 sec
Control 29 sec 17 sec 21 sec 1 min and 1 sec

RESULT

First, we calculate the averages of each individual group for both familiarization and actual test.
The average time for group 1 which listened to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is 5.15 minutes for
familiarization. And 45 seconds for the actual test. The average time for group 2 is 23 sec for the
familiarization, and 41 sec for the actual test. The graphs compare the average group times from
the trials for both familiarization and the actual test.

Experimental Group Familiarization and Actual Test (with music)

2nd
1st trial 2nd trial 1st actual actual
(No (No (With (With
music) Music) Music) Music)
0:00:00
0:00:25
0:01:05
0:01:26

0:02:25
0:02:53 Experimental

0:04:19

0:05:46

0:07:12
0:08:05
0:08:38
Control Group Familiarization and Actual Test (without music)

1st trial 2nd trial 1st actual 2nd Actual

(No Music) (No Music) test Test
0:00:00

0:00:09
0:00:17
0:00:17
0:00:21
0:00:26
0:00:29 Control
0:00:35

0:00:43

0:00:52

0:01:00 0:01:01
0:01:09