The Mozart Effect Debunked

Why classical music isn't a shortcut

In the 1990s, a small study claimed that listening to Mozart boosted spatial reasoning. The finding spawned a billion-dollar "Baby Mozart" industry. But follow-up research revealed the twist: the bump had nothing to do with Mozart. Music that listeners found energizing lifted their mood and alertness, which temporarily sharpened performance. Researchers got the same effect from a Stephen King audiobook if people enjoyed listening to it.

Source

Thompson, W. F., Schellenberg, E. G., & Husain, G. (2001). Arousal, mood, and the Mozart effect. Psychological Science, 12(3), 248–251.

In real life...

Before a demanding task, put on something that energizes you. Mozart, Beyoncé, metal, whatever works. The genre doesn't matter, your response to it does. For lasting cognitive benefit, pick up an instrument instead of just pressing play.