Mozart sonata helps reduce brain signals associated with epilepsy in small study
Share
TORONTO -
Researchers are diving deeper into a little known avenue of treatment for those with medication-resistant epilepsy: listening to classical music.
But not just any piece of classical music.
In a small study published in the Scientific Reports on Thursday, researchers found that 16 patients who listened to a Mozart sonata for at least 30 seconds had less frequent spikes of brain activity associated with epilepsy, adding more support to something called the “Mozart Effect.”
They also found that when patients listened to music from genres they preferred, it had no significant impact, meaning Mozart might just be special.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition in which bursts of electrical activity in the brain cause repeated seizures, which can range from mild to severe. As of 2018, there were around 300,000 Canadians living with epilepsy.
While anti-seizure medications exist, around one third of people with epilepsy are considered drug-resistant, meaning that even when prescribed medication that should work for them, they continue to experience seizures.
Because what exactly triggers epilepsy is so varied and difficult to pinpoint — genetics can be a factor, as well as abnormalities in brain structure, stroke, trauma, infectious disease and unknown causes — how to treat medication-resistant epilepsy is a big question.
The idea of music as brain therapy has been investigated before, as listening to music activates the brain. And when it comes to epilepsy, one piece of music in particular has been front of the pack: Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K.448).
People with epilepsy experience something called interictal epileptiform discharges (IED) along with seizures, which are neural firings that serve as a biomarker in the brain for epilepsy, associated with seizure frequency and impaired cognition, the study explained.
Past studies have looked into interventions that focus on IED as a potential way to limit seizures. Listening to music as a form of “neuromodulation” has been studied before, with Mozart’s K.448 having been noted to have an impact in reducing IED in studies, with the first study dating back to 1993. In that initial study, listening to Mozart proved more helpful than listening to relaxation instructions that aimed to lower blood pressure.
“Apart from one other composition—Mozart’s Piano Sonata in C Major (K.545)—the therapeutic properties of K.448 could not be replicated with other musical stimuli,” this new study explained.
In this new study, researchers aimed to validate the findings from past research by using a new method, intracranial Stereo-EEG, in adults with medication-resistant epilepsy, and see if the “Mozart K.448 effect” works on specific parts of the brain.
Intracranial Stereo-EEG is a way for scientists to track brain activity in which electrodes are placed just inside the skull by a surgical team to record electrical signals. Most previous studies have used electrodes placed on the scalp, a less sensitive way to measure brain activity.
Researchers in this new study measured different durations of music, having the 16 participants listen to Mozart K.448 for either 15 seconds or 90 seconds.
Subjects had more than 60 electrodes implanted for the study.
Researchers found that the duration of the music did have an impact. After listening to 90 seconds, patients had a “significant reduction” in IED rates across the brain, including inside the “seizure onset zone,” whereas listening to only 15 seconds did reduce IED rates, but not by a significant amount.
Patients had a 66.5-per-cent average global IED reduction in the study, and researchers concluded that it was necessary for patients to listen to at least 30 seconds to see any benefit.
When looking at the regions of the brain where IEDs were reduced the most, researchers found that significant reductions were observed mostly in the bilateral frontal cortices. The frontal lobes of the brain are the largest, and are vital to numerous important functions, including speech, working memory and voluntary movement.
When researchers looked at which specific intervals of the music were best, they found that the boundaries of the preferred segments matched up with a professional musician’s notation of the piece.
“There was a significant association between increased frontal theta activity and transitions from longer musical boundaries,” the study stated, though it noted that other musical segment categories didn’t have specific associations. Longer musical sequences meant segments that were more than 10 seconds with no break or shift in musical theme.
Another big aspect of the study was testing if music preference for each subject, and different types of music, had an impact.
But patients had no significant reduction in IED when listening to music they preferred.
“Our theory for the “Mozart K.448 effect” raises a critical distinction between subjective emotional responses to music and internal, evoked emotional brain responses,” the study stated.
Researchers added that “the musical structure defined by the sonata form may elicit positive emotional responses that may be important for anti-epileptic effects.”
It may be possible to find more music that has the same anti-epileptic effect if we pay close attention to the musical structure of Mozart K.448, the study suggested. The first 90 seconds of the music, for instance, has contrasting melodic themes with underlying harmonies. Another piece of music that the study looked at, Wagner’s Prelude to Act I of Lohengrin, begins with only static chords followed by “small shifts in instrumentation and harmony,” and was not associated with significant reductions of IED.
“This work was selected to control for the effect of melody-with-harmony versus harmony alone,” the study explained.
Researchers noted that they found that 90 seconds of listening to music isn’t enough exposure to have a lasting impact on neural activity once the study was over, and acknowledged that the study was limited by its small number of participants.
“Our null IED findings for the altered music, music matched to K.448, and music from subject-preferred genres reinforce the claim that there might be something special about Mozart’s original composition, especially for interacting with the pathology of epilepsy,” the study said.
“These findings reveal the importance of stimulus duration and encourage future work to determine the optimal duration of music for generating enduring therapeutic responses.”
Homicide investigators in B.C. say murder charges have been laid against a fourth Indian national in connection to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara last year.
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with 'The Code,' an operatic ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing their nongender identity.
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Several hours after after police forcefully removed a camp of pro-Palestinian demonstrators from the University of Alberta, hundreds of protesters marched from downtown toward the campus.
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
A growing number of civilians and police officers are demanding the dismissal and arrest of Haiti's police chief as heavily armed gangs launched a new attack in the capital of Port-au-Prince, seizing control of yet another police station early Saturday.
Flash floods from unusually heavy seasonal rains in Afghanistan have killed more than 300 people and destroyed over 1,000 houses, the UN food agency said Saturday.
Biden wants the 2024 election to be a referendum on Trump's record and plans, but he also wants voters to look favourably on his own policies and actions
Donald Trump is known for leveling constant and often personal attacks on top rivals such as Joe Biden. Lately, he's increasingly taking that same approach against independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Winnie Makinda, 35, says she is facing the worst crisis and lowest moment of her life because of the Kenyan government's response to floods that devastated her poor community in the capital of Nairobi.
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but that wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
A man who was accused of sexually and physically assaulting a woman had his charges dropped in April, just weeks before he was set to stand trial in Toronto, due to a lack of judges in the region.
Canada is putting $76 million towards a German-led effort to help Ukraine defend itself from Russian missiles and aircraft, Defence Minister Bill Blair announced Friday.
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
When you're picking something up from the floor or bending over to tie your shoe laces, you're performing "the hinge move," according to movement trainers.
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with 'The Code,' an operatic ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing their nongender identity.
The union representing WestJet Encore pilots says its members rejected the tentative deal reached last month, with just over half voting the agreement down.
The Ontario government says it will be supporting Ontario Power Generation's plan to refurbish the R. H. Saunders Generating Station on the St. Lawrence River.
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
When it comes to gardening, a lot of questions come up, including the best way to keep pets away from plants, maintaining your lawn and keeping the dandelions at bay.
Pregnancy is often an exciting and anxious time for parents-to-be. And while painting the nursery and choosing a stroller are typically on the agenda, experts say preparing financially for a maternity leave can help reduce stress later on as well.
Canada’s top university football athletes gathered on the gridiron Saturday to show off their skills in the East-West Bowl at the University of Waterloo.
Tesla will spend more than US$500 million to expand its fast-charging network, CEO Elon Musk said on Friday, days after abruptly laying off employees who were running the business.
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'
The Regina Police Service says it is the first in Saskatchewan and possibly Canada to implement new technology in its detention facility that will offer real-time monitoring of detainees’ vital health metrics.
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
A grieving mother is hosting a helmet drive in the hopes of protecting children on Manitoba First Nations from a similar tragedy that killed her daughter.
Homicide investigators in B.C. say murder charges have been laid against a fourth Indian national in connection to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara last year.
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
As was predicted, some communities in B.C. experienced their warmest May 10 on record Friday, when the mercury rose to over 30 C in parts of the province.
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
Quebecers across the province turned their gazes upwards on Friday night as a spectacular show in the sky was on display thanks to a solar storm hit the earth's atmosphere.
Dozens gathered on Lavoisier Boulevard in Ferland Park in Montreal on Saturday as a pair of white shoes were installed in memory of a mother and grandmother, who was struck and killed by an SUV almost four years ago in the St. Leonard borough.
Several hours after after police forcefully removed a camp of pro-Palestinian demonstrators from the University of Alberta, hundreds of protesters marched from downtown toward the campus.
Out-of-control wildfires in northern Alberta prompted a local state of emergency in the County of Grande Prairie early Saturday morning, as well as evacuation orders in the county and the Municipal District of Greenview.
Several community groups who work with the city’s vulnerable populations gathered downtown on Saturday for an event to celebrate the impact of their work on Winnipeg.
Some homes and cottages north of Flin Flon, Man. are under an evacuation order because of a growing wildfire caused by drought conditions and high winds.
The 8th annual Nagar Kirtan Parade packed the streets of Regina on Saturday, bringing the Regina Sikh community and people from surrounding areas together.
Canada’s top university football athletes gathered on the gridiron Saturday to show off their skills in the East-West Bowl at the University of Waterloo.
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Conditions will be favourable for the development of funnel clouds in London and surrounding counties on Saturday, according to a weather advisory issued by Environment Canada.
Hundreds of people braved the early morning rain to get up close with London, Ont.’s emergency service personnel. Children were excited to climb aboard emergency vehicles and participate in emergency-related activities.
What do you look for in a good bottle of hot sauce? Sweet or smokey flavours? Or, perhaps, you're a 'glutton for punishment' — the words of one person in attendance at Windsor's 2nd annual Heatseeker Hot Sauce Festival.
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
After four targeted shootings in four days, Mounties in Kamloops are taking the unusual step of warning the public about two men they believe are likely to be targeted in future violent incidents.
The city of Elliot Lake’s arena woes are turning out to be a costly problem. The latest report that will be going before council on Monday puts the quote for repairs at $4.3 million.
The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall has concluded its report into a fire that caused millions in damages to a property along Charles Walk in Elliot Lake back last year.
City officials in Elliot Lake, Ont., confirm that repairs to the water line on Hillside Drive North have been completed and water has been restored to all homes – however, a boil water advisory remains in effect for the entire city.
Ontario Provincial Police are facing tough questions about their search for a missing Newfoundland trucker whose rig was found two weeks ago in Ontario, then sent back to Newfoundland, where his body was found Monday in the trailer.