The effects of Mozart's music on interictal activity in epileptic patients: systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature

Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2014 Jan;14(1):420. doi: 10.1007/s11910-013-0420-x.

Abstract

Mozart's music has been shown to have promising effects on nervous system functions. In this study, the effects of Mozart's work on epilepsy were reviewed. Articles were obtained from a variety of sources. The results of 12 studies were extracted. Three different meta-analyses were performed to examine (i) the percentage of patients who had changes in their interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) by music therapy; and the changes of IEDs (ii) during and (iii) after exposure to Mozart's music. Data analysis indicated that 84% of patients listening to Mozart's music showed a significant decrease in IEDs. In addition, IEDs were decreased during (31.24%) and after (23.74%) listening to Mozart's compositions. A noteworthy response to music therapy in patients with a higher intelligence quotient, generalized or central discharges, and idiopathic epilepsy was demonstrated. The effect of Mozart's music on epilepsy seems to be significant. However, more randomized control studies are needed to determine its clinical efficacy.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Auditory Perception / physiology*
  • Databases, Factual / statistics & numerical data
  • Epilepsy / therapy*
  • Famous Persons
  • Humans
  • Music Therapy / methods*