This is the presentation of Judah Blumenthal about the correlation between music and math. Studies show that children of a young age who are introduced to a musical instrument have increased academics.

1. The Connection Between Music and Math By Judah Blumenthal

2. Have you ever wondered why, as a child, your parents urged you to take piano or some sort of musical instrument lessons?

3. Well, it is most likely because your parents understood that playing a musical instrument has a positive correlation with math.

4. The question is: how?

5. Let’s take a look at which parts of the brain control this correlation between math and music and how music stimulates the brain to enhance math skills.

6. First, let’s explore the supporting evidence. There is an abundance of research that shows that if children are trained in music at a young age, their mathematical capabilities are significantly increased.

7. According to an article by Cindy Zhan discussing the relationship between music and math, “this research is not that music as a whole is enhancing math skills. It is certain aspects of music that are affecting mathematics ability in a big way.

8. Studies done mostly in children of young age show that their academic performance increases after a certain period of music education and training,” (Zhan, The Correlation Between Music and Math: A Neurobiological Perspective).

9. A study published in the journal Nature involved the participation of first graders who were given various musical instruments. The study gave one group of children instruments that all revolved around a particular skill that developed rhythm and pitch.

10. Another group was given traditional instruction. After six months passed, each student who had an instrument that focused on pitch and rhythm scored much higher in mathematics than the students who were given more traditional musical instruction.

11. The reason for this is linked to spatial-temporal reasoning.

12. “Spatial-temporal reasoning affects the transformation of relating mental images in space and time, symmetries of the inherent cortical firing patterns used to compare physical and mental images ...

13. and natural temporal sequences of those inherent cortical patterns,” (The Correlation Between Music and Math: A Neurobiological Perspective).

14. This is all linked to the Mozart effect, which was named after experiments that proved listening to Mozart’s compositions enhanced short-term spatial-temporal reasoning, due to their rhythmic sequences.

15. Certain regions of the brain are used throughout musical training. These areas include the corpus callosum and the right motor cortex.

16. According to Zhan, “Dr. Gottfried Schlaug found that certain regions of the brain were larger in musicians who started their musical training before the age of 7,” (The Correlation Between Music and Math: A Neurobiological Perspective).

17. Experiments by Gordon and Leng, neurological researchers, mapped the trion model of the brain’s firing patterns in various pitches and instruments...

18. which led to insight that correlated the neuronal processes that are involved in spatial-temporal reasoning (and music).

19. For more information on how music positively correlates to developing good mathematical skills, read Cindy Zhan’s article here, and next time you find yourself puzzled with math – try picking up an instrument.