Mozart effect-Shmozart effect: A meta-analysis
Pietschnig J, Voracek M, Formann AK · 2010
grade Bmeta-analysisindependentfailed
Sample
Nearly 40 studies, over 3,000 subjects, including unpublished research
Population
Mixed ages; spatial-task performance after musical exposure
Design
The definitive meta-analysis of the claim, 16 years after Rauscher et al. (1993). Deliberately includes unpublished work, tests for publication bias, and - the decisive move - tests LAB AFFILIATION as a moderator.
Key findings
Mozart KV448 versus non-musical or no stimulus: d = 0.37 (95% CI 0.23 to 0.52). But ANY other musical stimulus versus non-musical or none gave a similar d = 0.38 (95% CI 0.13 to 0.63), and Mozart versus other music was negligible, d = 0.15 (0.02 to 0.28) - i.e. there is an arousal effect of music, not a Mozart effect. Formal tests found confounding publication bias requiring downward correction, and the central finding is a systematically higher effect in studies by Rauscher and colleagues than by other researchers. Little evidence remains for a specific Mozart effect.
Genetic confound
Low; experimental within- and between-subject exposure contrasts.
Effects
| Outcome | Metric | Value | Measure | Timing | Vs | Horizon | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spatial task performance, Mozart vs non-musical/no stimulus | Cohen d | d = 0.37 (95% CI 0.23-0.52), before downward correction for publication bias | standardized | immediately post-exposure | business-as-usual | end-of-treatment | g |
| Spatial task performance, any other music vs non-musical/no stimulus | Cohen d | d = 0.38 (95% CI 0.13-0.63) - indistinguishable from Mozart | standardized | immediately post-exposure | business-as-usual | end-of-treatment | g |
| Mozart vs other music (the specific effect) | Cohen d | d = 0.15 (95% CI 0.02-0.28) | standardized | immediately post-exposure | active-alternative | end-of-treatment | g |
| Lab affiliation as moderator | moderator test | effects systematically higher in the originating lab | standardized | n/a | none | not-applicable | g |
Cited by
- Brain Gym, Whole Brain Teaching, and the smaller classroom brain fadsdebunkedconf: mediumgc: low
- Does learning music make children smarter or better at school?mixedconf: mediumgc: medium