obituaries

Obituaries from page 144

Magical Music

Israeli study finds preemies prefer Mozart to Bach.

Dan Even

Haaretz

A

n Israeli study has demonstrat-
ed that listening to the music of
Mozart is more conducive to the
development of premature babies than is
exposure to Bach.
Many studies have demonstrated the
benefits of classical music to the develop-
ment of babies. But the Ichilov Hospital
research, led by Professor Dror Mandel,
director of the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit, and Ronit Lubetzky, deputy director
of the Department of Pediatrics, exam-
ined whether all classical compositions
aid premature babies' health or whether
Mozart has a unique influence.
Twelve premature babies, born in the
30th week of pregnancy, averaging 2.6
pounds, were divided into three groups,
who were each exposed to the music
of Mozart on the first day, to Bach on
the second day, and to no music at all
on the third day. The music was played
from iPads placed outside the incuba-

tors, with earphones in the incubators
adapted to the babies' ears at a volume
of 75 decibels. An instrument measuring
the absorption of oxygen and emission
of carbon dioxide was attached to the
babies, enabling researchers to calculate
the babies' metabolic rates.
The compositions chosen for the study
from Baby Mozart and Baby Bach discs
were calm and not performed by large
orchestras. Following only half an hour of
exposure to Mozart's music, the metabol-
ic rates dropped by 9.7 percent in com-
parison to babies who weren't exposed
to music at all. Listening to Bach led to a
drop of 4.5 percent in the babies' meta-
bolic rate, in comparison to those not
exposed to music; but this drop wasn't
deemed to be statistically significant.
The effect of Mozart's music was very
swift: Ten minutes after beginning to
listen to his music, the babies' meta-
bolic rates dropped by 4.5 percent. This
drop continued as the music went on, in
comparison to the babies who weren't
exposed to music.

"Lowering the metabolism rate of
premature babies causes them to lose
fewer calories and increase their weight
faster, which is a positive state," Mandel
explains.
I
"In medical literature, there is an
Listening to Mozart lowers a premature baby's
assumption that repeating musi-
metabolic rate, promoting weight gain.
cal themes, characteristic to most of
Mozart's compositions, is partially
responsible for the calming and beneficial sive care unit, when preemies don't gain
effect of the music:' he says.
enough weight, I recommend to their
Hila Rosenfeld Keidar, M.D. and
mothers that they expose them to Mozart
Professor Francis Meimoni, head of pedi-
in an effort to improve their condition."
atrics at Ichilov, took part in the study,
The effect of Baby Mozart discs and
whose conclusions were presented in
their possible benefits began with contro-
early July at the annual conference of the
versial studies in the 1990s that pointed
Israeli Society of Pediatrics in Tel Aviv.
to an increase in intelligence quotients
An earlier study by Ichilov staff, pub-
of babies who were exposed to Mozart.
lished in January 2010 in Pediatrics, also
But this effect was also noticed in babies
revealed that listening to Mozart slowed
listening to other classical composers.
down the metabolic rate.
Mozart's compositions were proved to
"Exposing premature babies to music
affect not only the wellbeing of babies
is considered a relatively new issue, and
and premature babies, but also children
one can't change procedures as a result of with various diseases, including epilepsy
such a small survey as the one we carried and tinnitus, a condition causing a ring-
out," Mandel says. "In our neonatal inten- ing sound in the ears.

❑

•

11 1

A TIME FOR FAMILY, FAITH AND COMMUNITY
FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS

We wish you health, happiness and time together this Rosh Hashanah.

From the Corner of Dexter and Edison and more than half a century in our current
location, we are thankful for the privlege of serving this wonderful community

THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL

248.569.0020 • IraKaufman.com

Bringing Together Family, Faith & Community

18325 W. 9 Mile Road Southfield, Ml 48075

146 August 29 • 2013

Obituaries