News in Brief
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Wearing face masks do no harm
have always treated the ‘Mozart Effect’ with some scepticism.
The principal mode of SARS-CoV-2 transmission involves viral entry through the respiratory tract. This generally occurs when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or speaks, generating aerosols carrying the virus. At the onset of the pandemic, there was rudimentary knowledge about the virus, and policies were developed based on the best available evidence. Thus, guidelines regarding wearing face masks differed among countries and over time. At present, scientists are convinced that masks are paramount in reducing viral spread.
More recently, two Italian researchers, Gianluca Sesso and Federico Sicca, systematically reviewed existing research works and found that listening to Mozart led to a remarkable decrease in epileptic seizures (31%–66%) and interictal epileptiform discharges. These effects occurred after a single music session and were sustained after a prolonged treatment duration. Sonatas for two pianos, K448 and K545, had an exceptionally positive effect. The researchers believe that Mozart’s sonatas might have distinctive rhythmic structures specifically suited to working on epilepsy.
As the pandemic ravages the world relentlessly, there has been a setback in government measures to contain the virus globally. A large number of protestors have taken to the streets against the compulsory use of face masks. They have condemned mandatory mask-wearing as “an infringement of freedom”, “violation of religious rights”, or a part of a broader conspiracy that “COVID-19 is a hoax”. Some have proclaimed that mask-wearing engenders”more harm than good” due to rebreathing CO2, with some even considering that “masks are lethal.”
The highly congruous results of this meta-analysis firmly imply that Mozart’s music could be an effective non-invasive method for improving clinical outcomes in epilepsy, especially in difficult-to-treat ones. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of the Mozart effect on the brain should be understood to use this method in clinical settings. (European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress September 2020, Clinical Neurophysiology April 2020)
Researchers at Florida recruited 15 house-staff physicians without any pulmonary conditions and 15 patients with COPD. They monitored their EtCO2 and SpO2 throughout the time they were wearing surgical masks, and arterial blood gases before and after a 6-minute walking test with masks on. They found that gas exchange was not significantly affected by the use of masks, even in those with severe lung impairment. They feel that dyspnea experienced by some people wearing masks does not stem from hypercarbia or hypoxemia; rather, it occurs from a restriction of airflow, especially when higher ventilation is needed on exertion. This research, although small, dispels some misconceptions surrounding the use of face masks in the context of the surging COVID-19 pandemic. (Annals of the American Thoracic Society 2 October 2020) Classical music improves epilepsy: The Moz
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