The MozartThe Mozart EffectEffect

Team 5 ProjectTeam 5 Project

What do you

remember?

The Effects of Music on The Effects of Music on MemoryMemory

Mozart Effect: ability to increase Mozart Effect: ability to increase memory after listening to classical memory after listening to classical musicmusic

““Musical experiences of short Musical experiences of short duration have powerful effects on IQ duration have powerful effects on IQ scores” (Steele, Ball, Runk, 1997).scores” (Steele, Ball, Runk, 1997).

And now, for the real experiment…

The Social The Social Contagion Contagion of Memoryof Memory

ConfederatesConfederates

CarlCarl KarlKarl KirstenKirsten MargaretMargaret Paul H.Paul H.

Andrew DavisAndrew Davis Caitlin KingCaitlin King Ethan GrovemanEthan Groveman Lily WangLily Wang Liz SoLiz So

IntroductionIntroduction

Topics Covered:Topics Covered:– Collaborative RecallCollaborative Recall– Social ContagionSocial Contagion– CredibilityCredibility

Subjects & MaterialsSubjects & Materials

35 NJGSS students were tested35 NJGSS students were tested Six pictures of common Six pictures of common

household sceneshousehold scenes Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” 10 confederates: 5 students and 10 confederates: 5 students and

5 counselors5 counselors

Experiment DesignExperiment Design

Variable tested: counselor vs. Variable tested: counselor vs. student confederatestudent confederate

Scenes with false memories Scenes with false memories implantedimplanted

ProcedureProcedure

Subjects believed the test was on Subjects believed the test was on music and memorymusic and memory

Tested 1 subject and 1 Tested 1 subject and 1 confederate at a timeconfederate at a time

Each scene viewed for 15 secondsEach scene viewed for 15 seconds

ProcedureProcedure

4 minute filler task: multiplication 4 minute filler task: multiplication problemsproblems

Collaborative recall phaseCollaborative recall phase Individual recall phaseIndividual recall phase

ProcedureProcedure

4 minute filler task: multiplication 4 minute filler task: multiplication problemsproblems

Collaborative recall phaseCollaborative recall phase Individual recall phaseIndividual recall phase

ResultsResults

The average number of true items The average number of true items recalled by each subject per recalled by each subject per scene was 6.7scene was 6.7

No real difference in true items No real difference in true items between subjects with counselors between subjects with counselors vs. peersvs. peers

ResultsResults

On average, subjects made up .7 On average, subjects made up .7 items per sceneitems per scene

Numbers of made up items did Numbers of made up items did not differ depending on whether not differ depending on whether the subject was with a counselor the subject was with a counselor or a peeror a peer

ResultsResults

71% of subjects recalled at least 71% of subjects recalled at least one implanted itemone implanted item

On average, students recalled On average, students recalled 25% of the implanted objects25% of the implanted objects

ResultsResults

Hypothesis supportedHypothesis supported 61% when paired with a student 61% when paired with a student

vs. 82% of subjects recalled at vs. 82% of subjects recalled at least one implanted item when least one implanted item when paired with a counselor paired with a counselor

Subjects with counselor Subjects with counselor confederates recalled an average confederates recalled an average of 32% of the six total implanted of 32% of the six total implanted items vs. 19% items vs. 19%

DiscussionDiscussion

Reasons subjects recalled more Reasons subjects recalled more implanted items with counselor implanted items with counselor confederates confederates

-counselors have authority-counselors have authority

-considered a more credible -considered a more credible sourcesource

- “cool” factor- “cool” factor

-simply better actors -simply better actors

DiscussionDiscussion

True memory recall was constant True memory recall was constant throughout the experiment throughout the experiment – Both groups have same innate Both groups have same innate

abilityability– Only difference between the two Only difference between the two

groups was the difference in groups was the difference in recollection of implanted itemsrecollection of implanted items

DiscussionDiscussion

Possible sources of error:Possible sources of error:– Differences in picturesDifferences in pictures– Differences in Differences in

confederates/experimentersconfederates/experimenters– SpeedSpeed

Time elapsedTime elapsed Part of music playingPart of music playing

– Confederate mistakesConfederate mistakes Missing words/wrong orderMissing words/wrong order

Discussion-Discussion-ImplicationsImplications

Minimal authorityMinimal authority Governor’s School students vs. Governor’s School students vs.

othersothers Faith in government Faith in government

Do You Have any Do You Have any Questions about this Questions about this

Study?Study? ““What does question #4 mean?”What does question #4 mean?” ““I’m guessing classical music I’m guessing classical music

stopped for some of the scenes stopped for some of the scenes because I couldn’t remember as because I couldn’t remember as well”well”

““I am not very good at remembering I am not very good at remembering things, like the appointment time”things, like the appointment time”

““Does someone actual work in this Does someone actual work in this prison-like office?”prison-like office?”

Please comment on Please comment on the experiencethe experience

““The math problems are a good The math problems are a good idea”idea”

““Other kid acted weird when I Other kid acted weird when I said ‘bed’ before him. Vivaldi ≠ said ‘bed’ before him. Vivaldi ≠ Mozart”Mozart”

““Next time, provide drinks as Next time, provide drinks as well”well”

523 436 719 216 598 611

x 312 x 112 x 211 x 313 x 174 x 544

What type of music to What type of music to you listen to most you listen to most

frequently?frequently? ““Opera, heavy metal”Opera, heavy metal” ““Hip-hop, bhangra, alternative Hip-hop, bhangra, alternative

rock”rock” ““Metal (thrash, heavy + melodic Metal (thrash, heavy + melodic

death metal) Bands-Megadeth, death metal) Bands-Megadeth, Metallica (before 1990) Metallica (before 1990) Queensryche, Slayer, Trivium, Queensryche, Slayer, Trivium, Opeth, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden”Opeth, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden”

“…“…Beethoven to Meatloaf, Beethoven to Meatloaf, Rimsky-Korsakov to Billy Joel…”Rimsky-Korsakov to Billy Joel…”

Individual Recall Individual Recall BloopersBloopers

70% spelled vacuum wrong70% spelled vacuum wrong ““2 walls converging at a corner”2 walls converging at a corner” ““turn thingy”turn thingy” ““bar with two half-moon like sides” bar with two half-moon like sides”

(wrench)(wrench) ““ranch” (wrench)ranch” (wrench) ““little metal things that form 90 degree little metal things that form 90 degree

angles and have holes in them” angles and have holes in them” (brackets)(brackets)

““thing used to roll doe”thing used to roll doe” ““knuts”knuts”

Thank YouThank You

ConfederatesConfederates

Dr. MiyamotoDr. Miyamoto

SuraceSurace

Dr. Quinn, medicine womanDr. Quinn, medicine woman

SubjectsSubjects

Team Cognitive Team Cognitive IllusionsIllusions

Sir Brian W. BoyleSir Brian W. Boyle Nihal Dayal XIVNihal Dayal XIV Darth FungDarth Fung Queen Kaitlyn GoldenQueen Kaitlyn Golden Admiral Chris LarsenAdmiral Chris Larsen Contessa Leslie Contessa Leslie

NachbarNachbar Duchess Liza Duchess Liza

RubensteinRubenstein

Princess Sarah Princess Sarah SchechterSchechter

Jedi Master Lexi Jedi Master Lexi Shechtel Shechtel

General Paul Szerlip General Paul Szerlip Millicent Madden Millicent Madden

YoungerYounger

President Professor Patrick Dolan, Ph.DPresident Professor Patrick Dolan, Ph.DVice President Jen SissmanVice President Jen Sissman