Subject: Re: Musical abilities are among the last to be lost in cases of From: Harriet B Jacobster <Hjacobster(at)AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 11:39:22 EST-------------------------------1109608762 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2/28/2005 8:37:49 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, nombraun(at)TELIA.COM writes: Today we have data showing similar signs of appreciation of Mozart's music in rats as in humans. These signs have been measured in autonomic neural activity and in neurochemistry. Clearly, the rats had no language-like skills to perceive Mozart's music. But they still could show that their brains loved it. This seems not only biologically based but logical as well. Music, or melodic and rhythmic patterns, has long been the method of communication in many animal species. Music therefore would be a more primitive innate ability. In response to an earlier question, there have been documented occurrences of composers continuing to compose even after the onset of dementia; one famous example is Ravel who composed his Bolero while in the throes of dementia. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Harriet B. Jacobster, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA Board Certified in Audiology Clinical Supervisor Mercy College Dobbs Ferry, New York (914) 674-7742 hjacobster(at)mercy.edu -------------------------------1109608762 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; charset=3DUS-ASCII"> <META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2900.2604" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=3Drole_body style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY:=20= Arial"=20 bottomMargin=3D7 leftMargin=3D7 topMargin=3D7 rightMargin=3D7><FONT id=3Drol= e_document=20 face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=3D2> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 2/28/2005 8:37:49 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,=20 nombraun(at)TELIA.COM writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE=20 style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT=20 style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffbf0" face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=3D2>= Today we=20 have data showing similar signs of appreciation of Mozart's music<BR>in ra= ts=20 as in humans. These signs have been measured in autonomic neural<BR>activi= ty=20 and in neurochemistry. Clearly, the rats had no language-like<BR>skills to= =20 perceive Mozart's music. But they still could show that their<BR>brains lo= ved=20 it.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV>This seems not only biologically based but logical as well. = =20 Music, or melodic and rhythmic patterns, has long been the method of=20 communication in many animal species. Music therefore would be a more=20 primitive innate ability. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In response to an earlier question, there have been documented occurren= ces=20 of composers continuing to compose even after the onset of dementia; one fam= ous=20 example is Ravel who composed his Bolero while in the throes of dementia.&nb= sp;=20 </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=3D0 face=3D"Lucida Calligraphy" color=3D#004080 size=3D2 FAM= ILY=3D"SCRIPT"=20 PTSIZE=3D"10">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR>Harriet B. Jacobster, Au.D., CC= C-A,=20 FAAA<BR>Board Certified in Audiology<BR>Clinical Supervisor<BR>Mercy=20 College<BR>Dobbs Ferry, New York<BR>(914)=20 674-7742<BR>hjacobster(at)mercy.edu</FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML> -------------------------------1109608762--