Abstract
Predictions [1,2] from our structured neural model [3-7] of the cortex led us to the hypothesis that music could causally enhance spatial-temporal reasoning. We have shown [8,9]: a) College students scored significantly higher on a spatial-temporal reasoning task after listening to a Mozart Sonata, but not after listening to silence or to minimalist music. b) Preschool children who received private keyboard lessons for 6 months improved dramatically on a spatial-temporal reasoning task while appropriate control groups did not improve significantly [10]. Enhancement a) lasted roughly 10 minutes and established the causal effect, while enhancement b) lasts long enough to have major educational implications. Here we review the model, in particular, the “built-in” ability of the cortex to recognize symmetry relations [7] among the inherent spatial-temporal firing patterns, which we suggest is a crucial feature of the cortical relationship between music and spatial-temporal reasoning. Then, we summarize the striking behavioral results [8-10], and make further predictions relevant to education.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
X. Leng, and G.L. Shaw, Toward a neural theory of higher brain function using music as a window, Concepts Neurosci. 2:229 (1991).
X. Leng, Investigation of higher brain functions in music composition using models of the cortex based on physical system analogies. Ph.D. Thesis, University of California, Irvine (1990)
G.L. Shaw, D.J. Silverman, and J.C. Pearson, Model of cortical organization embodying a basis for a theory of information processing and memory recall, Proc. Natl. Acad. Science, USA, 82:2364 (1985).
D.J. Silverman, G.L. Shaw, and J.C. Pearson, Associative recall properties of the trion model of cortical organization, Biol. Cybern.53:259 (1986).
J.V. McGran’n, G.L. Shaw, D.J. Silverman, D.J., and J.C. Pearson, Higher temperature phases of a structured model of cortical organization, Physical ReviewA43:5678 (1991).
K.V. Shenoy, J. Kaufman, J.V. McGrann and Shaw, G.L., Learning by selection in the trion model of cortical organization Cerebral Cortex3:239 (1993).
J.V. McGrann, G.L. Shaw, K.V. Shenoy, X. Leng, and R.B. Mathews, Computation by symmetry operations in a structured model of the brain, Physical ReviewE49:5830 (1994).
F.H. Rauscher, G.L. Shaw, and K.N. Ky, Music and spatial task performance, Nature, 365:611 (1993).
F.H. Rauscher, G.L. Shaw, and K.N. Ky, Listening to Mozart enhances spatial-temporal reasoning:towards a neurophysiological basis, Neuroscience Letters185:44 (1995).
F.H. Rauscher, G.L. Shaw, L.J. Levine, E.L. Wright, W.R. Dennis and R.L. Newcomb, Evidence that music training yields long-term enhancement of preschool children’s reasoning abilities, submitted for publication.
J.J. Hopfield, Neural networks and physical systems with emergent collective computational behavior, Proc. Natl. Acad. Science, USA, 79:2554 (1982).
W.A. Little, Existence of persistent states in the brain, Math. Biosci.19:101 (1974).
B. Katz, The Release of Neural Transmitter Substances., Thomas, Springfield (1969).
G.L. Shaw and R. Vasudevan, Persistent states of neural networks and the random nature of synaptic transmission, Math. Biosci.21:207 (1974).
W.A. Little and G.L. Shaw, A statistical theory of short and long-term memory Behav. Biol. 14:115 (1975).
W.A. Little and G.L. Shaw, Analytic study of the storage capacity of a neural network, Math. Biosc.39:281 (1978).
J.V. McGrann, Further theoretical investigations of the trion model of cortical organization. Ph.D. Thesis, University of California, Irvine (1992).
G.J. Allman, ’Greek Geometry from Thales to Euclid Arno,’ New York (l976).
M. Hassler, N. Birbaumcr and A. Feil, Musical talent and visual-spatial abilities:a longitudinal study, Psychology of Music13:99 (1985).
L.D. Cranberg and M.L. Albert, The chess mind, In The exceptional brain, L.K. Obler and D. Fein, eds., Guilford, New York (1988).
W.S. Boettcher, S.S. Hahn, and G.L. Shaw, Mathematics and music:a search for insight into higher brain function, Leonardo Music J. 4:53 (1994).
V.B. Mountcastle, An organizing principle for cerebral function:the unit module and the distributed system. In The Mindful Brain, G. M. Edelman and V.B. Mountcastle, eds., MIT, Cambridge (1978).
D.O. Hebb, Organization of Behavior, Wiley, New York, (1949).
X. Leng, G.L. Shaw, and E.L. Wright, Coding of musical structure and the trion model of cortex, Music Perception8:49 (1990).
L. Brothers, G.L. Shaw, and E.L. Wright, Durations of extended mental rehearsals are remarkably reproducible in higher level human performance, Neurological Research15:413 (1993).
W.G. Chase and H.A. Simon, The mind’s eye in chess., In Visual information processing, W. G. Chase (Ed.), Academic Press, New York (1973).
H. Petsche, P. Richter, A. von Stein, S. Etlingcr and O. Filz, EEG coherence and musical thinking, Music Perception11:117 (1993).
K. Wynn, Addition and subtraction by human infants, Nature358:749 (1992).
E.S. Spelke, Principles of object perception, Cognitive Science14:29 (1990).
S.A. Trehub, Infants’ perception of music patterns, Perception and Psychophysics41:635 (1987).
C.L. Krumhansl and P.W. Jusczyk, Infants’ perception of phrase structure in music, Psychological Science1:70 (1990).
I. Peretz, R. Kolinsky, M. Tramo, R. Labrccque, C. Hublct, G. Demeurisse, S. Belleville, Functional dissociations following bilateral lesions of auditory cortex, Brain117:1283 (1994).
P.S. Goldman-Rakic, Introduction:the frontal lobes:uncharted provinces of the brain, Trends Neurosci. 7:425 (1984).
T. Bonhoeffer. and A. Grinvald, Iso-orientation domains in cat visual cortex arranged in pinwheel-like patterns, Nature353:429 (1991).
M.E. Fisher and W. Sclkc, Infinitely many commensurate phases in a simple Ising model, Phys. Rev Lett.44:1502 (1980).
G.L. Shaw and K.J. Roncy, Analytic solution of a neural network theory based on an Ising spin system analogy Phys. Lett. 74A:146 (1979).
S.H. Shanbhag, Robotic motion and the trion model of the cortex, unpublished report (1991)
G.M. Edelman, Neural Darwinism:The Theory of Neuronal Group Selection, Basic, New York (1987).
D.E. Rumelhart, J.E. McClclland and PDP Research Group, eds., Parallel Distributed Processing, MIT, Cambridge (1986).
R.N. Shepard and J. Metzlcr, Mental rotation of three-dimensional objects, Science171:701 (1971).
I. Mintz and H. Korn, Serontonergic facilitation of quantal release at central inhibitory synapses, J. of neuroscience11:3359 (1991).
J. Sarthein, A. von Stein, H. Pctsche, G.L. Shaw and F.R. Rauscher, EEG investigation of the positive cffccl of music on spatial-temporal reasoning, manuscript in preparation.
K.R. Karplus, S. Pulos and E.K. Stage, Early adolescent’s proportional reasoning on‘rate’ problems, Educational Studies in Math14:219 (1983).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1996 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Shaw, G.L. (1996). Computation by Symmetry Operations in a Structured Neural Model of the Brain: Music and Abstract Reasoning. In: Cabrera, B., Gutfreund, H., Kresin, V. (eds) From High-Temperature Superconductivity to Microminiature Refrigeration. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0411-1_25
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0411-1_25
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-8040-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0411-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive