The Mozart Effect refers to the hypothesis that listening to Mozart’s music, especially his Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K. 448), can temporarily improve cognitive performance, particularly spatial reasoning skills.

This concept emerged from early studies in the 1990s where individuals showed short-term enhancement in spatial-temporal reasoning after listening to this piece.

The Sonata’s instrumental and harmonious qualities contributed to its frequent selection for such experiments.

Recent research between 2015 and 2024, with a focus on children and educational settings, presents a nuanced and mixed perspective on the Mozart Effect.

A 2023 comprehensive study involving individuals with mild cognitive impairment found no overall enhancement in memory tasks due to background classical music, including Mozart; benefits were observed only in participants who habitually use music as an emotional regulator.

This finding points to significant individual variability influencing outcomes, underscoring that music's cognitive impact is not uniform across listeners.

Importantly, randomized controlled trials conducted in elementary and school-age populations reveal that familiar, pleasant instrumental music may enhance attentional focus and motivation but do not consistently improve spatial reasoning tasks.

These trials stress that music functions best as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, traditional teaching methods and cognitive training .

Meta-analyses of the Mozart Effect reinforce the transient and inconsistent nature of any cognitive benefits derived from listening to Mozart or classical music.

The brief spatial reasoning boosts observed in early research have not consistently replicated in diverse populations or educational contexts.

Emotional engagement, individual prior musical experience, and familiarity with the music critically moderate potential effects.

Reviews recommend selecting instrumental, familiar music with moderate arousal levels to minimize distraction and optimize attention during classroom activities.

Music with lyrics, complex structures, or unfamiliarity may reduce efficacy or interfere with language-dependent tasks .

Practical classroom case studies integrating classical or Mozart music during breaks or study periods offer some evidence of benefits in improving students' mood, reducing anxiety, and enhancing engagement and motivation.

These improvements appear more related to music's emotional and calming influence rather than direct cognitive enhancement.

While most reports remain anecdotal or lack rigorous control conditions, they align with the recommendation that musical choices be tailored to learners’ preferences and contexts.

Continuous monitoring and flexibility in selecting music types are essential for maximizing the positive impact of music in classrooms .

Though less directly relevant to child cognition, animal studies contribute to understanding music's broader physiological effects.

For example, a 2022 mouse heart transplant study showed that exposure to operatic and classical music, including Mozart, led to prolonged survival related to auditory stimulation.

These findings highlight music's role in stress modulation and immune function, which may indirectly support cognitive readiness and learning in humans by promoting well-being and reducing stress .

Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K. 448) remains the most frequently utilized and investigated piece associated with the Mozart Effect due to its balanced tonal structure and instrumental character.

Recent analyses confirm its harmonic richness and stimulating auditory qualities but emphasize that any cognitive benefits it may confer are short-lived and heavily dependent on individual listener differences.

Educators employing Mozart’s music in classroom settings are advised to prioritize such characteristics to minimize distraction and support attentive learning environments .

In conclusion, the Mozart Effect does not provide consistent or generalizable cognitive improvement in elementary students, particularly in spatial reasoning.

Its effects, when present, are fleeting and highly influenced by individual factors such as emotional regulation and prior musical experience.

For classroom implementation, playing instrumental, familiar, and moderately arousing classical music can support mood and attentional focus, indirectly benefiting learning conditions.

Educators should view music as a supportive tool to enhance engagement and emotional comfort, rather than a direct cognitive enhancer.

Personalization and ongoing assessment of students' responses to music are recommended as best practices for integrating classical music, including Mozart, into educational routines.

The Mozart Effect refers to the hypothesis that listening to Mozart’s music, especially his Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K. 448), can temporarily improve cognitive performance, particularly spatial reasoning skills.

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The Sound of Success: Ideas in Music for Concentration and Productivity

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Does music help you concentrate? Since we spend a lot of time in front of computers trying to finish our work, wouldn’t it be nice to listen to some of music to help concentrate? Well, music lovers, it seems like Mozart and Beethoven could actually help you with your productivity. Beethoven once said: «Music is where the spirit lives, thinks and invents.»

This relationship between music and the brain is an area that has been intensively explored in research. Many studies point to the ability of music to help employees be more productive and help children in their learning process more effectively. University research in France found that students who listened to music for an hour while reading, scored significantly higher on a questionnaire compared to a group of students who read without music.

Your attention span is better when listening to music

It seems that music for concentration puts students in a heightened emotional state, so that they can be more receptive to information. «It is possible that music causes a change in the learning environment and influenced students’ motivation to stay focused while reading, which led to better performance on a multiple-choice questionnaire,» concluded the french research team in a recent article.

But before you start playing any type, you have to find the music that works better for the type of work you are trying to carry do. For example, the classic from the Baroque period is said to do wonders for brain activity when you are studying or writing. But not all classical music is created equal, so dramatic changes and complicated fugue changes may not be as conducive as a smooth piano piece. So if you have to choose a composer, we would say Mozart. There seems to be evidence that Mozart’s improves mental performance: it is called «The Mozart Effect”.

Build a harmonious space

If you don’t like classical, the discreet sound found in ambient music may work well for you instead. What is the purpose of this if you are not at the airport, you ask? Well, for creative purposes, it’s better than emptiness and silence. According to one of its pioneers, musician Brian Eno: “Background music must be able to accommodate many levels of attention when listening, without forcing one in particular. It must be as ignorable as it is interesting ”.

In fact, researchers have shown that a moderate level of noise, such as that found in the environment, can actually get creative juices flowing. Music with especially low-lows or especially high-highs should be avoided. Certain types of jazz instrumental melodies can also get your brain working.

Music without lyrics

In general, if you are doing work that requires writing, you should avoid listening to music with lyrics as the words in a song are especially destructive to your concentration. Since hearing words activates the brain’s language center, attempting to perform tasks related to another language would be like trying to have a conversation while someone else is speaking to you. But, if you are a cartoonist, and you don’t deal with sentence construction, hearing letters may not have the same effect.

Finally, studies show that listening to music you’re already familiar with may be better if you really need to focus. New songs take you into the unknown and your brain will want to listen closely to see what comes next. With the music you are familiar with you know what to expect, so it doesn’t distract you from your work. And if you like the tune you’re listening to try not to whistle it while you work, as that will only distract you.

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This concept emerged from early studies in the 1990s where individuals showed short-term enhancement in spatial-temporal reasoning after listening to this piece.

Title:

Content: 4/25/23 · Research

The beneficial effects of music on memory may depend on how it is listened to

The initial results of the study of the 'Mozart effect' on neurodegeneration show that listening to classical music in the background has no benefits for learning
The research has been carried out with people experiencing mild cognitive impairment, and it did find individual differences when listening to 'high-arousal' music

Listening to 'high-arousal' music could have a positive effect on memory for people who are accustomed to using music as an emotional regulator (Image: Clem Onojeghuo, Unsplash)

Given the lack of effective treatments to counteract cognitive impairment, background music has traditionally been proposed as a possible therapeutic alternative for improving memory-related tasks. Its effect has long been the focus of debate, but this relationship has now been found to be possibly determined by new interindividual parameters, which means that it may be more complex than was previously thought. This is shown by research led by Marco Calabria, a researcher in the Cognitive Neurolab group of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), who is now considering new experiments.

The initial results of the Mozart effect and memory in patients with cognitive impairment (MEM-COG) study, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, suggest that listening to background classical music while performing memory tasks neither improves nor impairs learning levels among people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, listening to more 'high-arousal' music was found to have a possible positive effect on people who are accustomed to using music as an emotional regulator in their everyday lives, which suggests there is potential for further hypotheses and research.

The study, which has been published as open access in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, was carried out with patients at the neuropsychology unit of Barcelona's Hospital de Sant Pau, and involved researchers at the hospital, Montreal's Concordia University and Madrid's Gregorio Marañón Health Research Institute.

There is no universal effect

"We found no general impact concerning the effect of music in terms of whether it had positive or negative effects on learning in cases of MCI, but we did find that it would be modulated for each individual. If people regularly use music as an emotional regulator in their daily life, such as to help them remain calm or for company, they will find it easier to obtain further benefits from music when they have to learn something new," explained Calabria, who has a PhD in Psychobiology.

The subjects of the study were people with mild amnestic cognitive impairment, i.e. they have memory problems as a result of an onset of neurodegeneration that is more specific in the parts of the brain dealing with aspects of learning and memory. The experiments consisted of observing 24 photographs of human faces. Participants were instructed to memorize them, and 10 minutes later, they were asked to look at a new series containing the previous 24 images and 24 new ones, in order to attempt to identify the ones that they had already seen.

A classical choice

The first test was performed with the subjects listening to classical music in the information consolidation phase but not in the recovery phase, while in the second exercise it was repeated with the auditory stimulus during both phases. However, no significant differences were observed in terms of results.

Classical music was used in these exercises because "it's a type of music that falls between relaxing and arousing, and has proven to be the most effective for enhancing memory". Furthermore, the fact that it is instrumental reduces the interference (that can come from lyrics) with the content that the participants have to learn in the memory task.

A ray of light

However, Calabria's team wanted to carry out a third experiment using popular music which was considered arousing rather than relaxing, and after a preliminary study, they used an instrumental version of Un rayo de sol (A ray of light), by the group Los Diablos. In that experiment, according to Calabria, the results suggested that "the use of music as a strategy for mood regulation is associated with better performance in memory tasks."

Ongoing research

This finding opens up the possibility of further research to continue exploring the role of interindividual preferences and attitudes towards music among patients with MCI. The group plans to continue the project until late 2024.

During this time, it will investigate whether background music could be more useful in other cognitive domains, such as in attention and concentration in patients with Parkinson's disease. The experiments will also involve the use of a new infrared spectroscopy device in the Neuro Lab, one of the recently opened new laboratories at the UOC, which will show the activation at the cerebral level while cognitive processes are taking place. This will help to determine whether or not there are any alterations in the brain's modulation, in which areas this takes place, and whether it depends on the type of person studied, regardless of the level of response to music.

In overall terms, this will help to find a type of marker which determines the people most likely to benefit from music in cognitive tasks. "The more we know about how background music shapes cognitive processes, the better the use we can make of music as a therapeutic tool in cognitive stimulation," concluded Calabria, an expert in the study of cognitive processes and a member of teaching staff on the UOC's Master's Degree in Neuropsychology.

This research project receives funding from the Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Government of Spain, and contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 3, Good health and well-being.

Reference article:

Calabria, Marco et al. 'Background Music and Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Role of Interindividual Differences'. 1 Jan. 2023: 815 – 829. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-221051

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+34 619 413 823

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The UOC's research and innovation (R&I) is helping overcome pressing challenges faced by global societies in the 21st century by studying interactions between technology and human & social sciences with a specific focus on the network society, e-learning and e-health.

Over 500 researchers and more than 50 research groups work in the UOC's seven faculties, its eLearning Research programme and its two research centres: the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) and the eHealth Center (eHC).

The university also develops online learning innovations at its eLearning Innovation Center (eLinC), as well as UOC community entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer via the Hubbik platform.

Open knowledge and the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development serve as strategic pillars for the UOC's teaching, research and innovation. More information: research.uoc.edu.

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The Sonata’s instrumental and harmonious qualities contributed to its frequent selection for such experiments.

Title:

Content: Friday, February 11, 2022

PBO’s “Narrowband” Approach to Mozart

Last night in Herbst Theatre the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (PBO), led by Music Director Richard Egarr, presented a program devoted entirely to music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The title of the program was Mozart the Radical, but there was just as much radicalism in Egarr’s approach to preparing the program. Three of the compositions were composed in the same year, 1786. In chronological order these were the K. 491 piano concerto in C minor, the K. 504 “Prague” symphony in D major, and the K. 505 “concert scene” for soprano voice and piano, which begins with the recitative “Ch’io mi scordi de te.” (When was the last time a program was prepared with successive entries from Ludwig Ritter von Köchel’s catalog?)

The remaining work was another concert scene, composed the following year while Mozart was preparing the premiere of his K. 527 Don Giovanni opera. The piece was the next entry in Köchel’s catalog, the K. 528 concert scene “Bella mia fiamma, addio.” The program thus almost constituted a “snapshot” of a very productive period in Mozart’s life.

The program was also adventurous in beginning with one of the only two piano concertos Mozart composed in a minor key. Indeed, a listener unfamiliar with the classical music repertoire could easily believe that K. 491 was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, not just for the minor key but for the stormy rhetoric that dominates the first movement. The listener with a more accurate sense of history could easily believe that this was an initial “warm-up” in preparation for all those intense moments in Don Giovanni.

Egarr conducted K. 491 from the keyboard, working with what was probably the largest complement of winds and brass that Mozart summoned for a piano concerto. What is of particular interest are the ways in which each distinctive instrumental sonority makes its own unique contribution to a rich palette of sonorities. As a former clarinet player I was especially drawn to the many imaginative motifs assigned to the pair of those instruments. However, the real joy of this listening experience came from appreciating the relation between all those instrumental sonorities and the often ferocious passages for the solo piano work, undoubtedly played by Mozart with all the intensity he could muster.

Equally stimulating was Egarr’s account of the K. 504 symphony. This is one of Mozart’s three-movement symphonies, omitting the stately minuet that is supposed to intervene between the slow movement and the finale. The D major key made for just the right complement to the minor key rhetoric of the piano concerto, suggested that Egarr had selected them as a matched set of bookends for his program. Like K. 491, this music is rich in its diversity of instrumental sonorities, even if the wind resources were more modest (and both trumpets and timpani were omitted).

Soprano Elizabeth Watts, featured in the middle portion of Richard Egarr’s all-Mozart program (courtesy of PBO)

Those bookends framed the vocal performances of soprano Elizabeth Watts, making her PBO debut. An orchestral setting is not the most conducive to dramatic rhetoric; but Watts found just the right combination of phrasing and body language to draw the audience into the intensity of her texts. Both of these vocal works amount to dispositional reflections on a broader narrative context. However, Watts’ interpretations kept the attentive listener focused on the immediate present, rather than trying to establish that context for each of the texts.

These concert arias tend to receive relatively little attention in concert programming. This is particularly true of K. 505, in which a piano enhances the soprano’s rhetorical turns, leaving the instrumental ensemble to “fill in the background.” However, if the thematic content was unfamiliar, the dramatic qualities of Watts’ interpretations left the attentive listener curious about other works in this particular category of the Mozart catalog.

Recent research between 2015 and 2024, with a focus on children and educational settings, presents a nuanced and mixed perspective on the Mozart Effect.

A 2023 comprehensive study involving individuals with mild cognitive impairment found no overall enhancement in memory tasks due to background classical music, including Mozart; benefits were observed only in participants who habitually use music as an emotional regulator.

This finding points to significant individual variability influencing outcomes, underscoring that music's cognitive impact is not uniform across listeners.

Importantly, randomized controlled trials conducted in elementary and school-age populations reveal that familiar, pleasant instrumental music may enhance attentional focus and motivation but do not consistently improve spatial reasoning tasks.

These trials stress that music functions best as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, traditional teaching methods and cognitive training .

Meta-analyses of the Mozart Effect reinforce the transient and inconsistent nature of any cognitive benefits derived from listening to Mozart or classical music.

The brief spatial reasoning boosts observed in early research have not consistently replicated in diverse populations or educational contexts.

Title:

Content: The opera "Tea Blossom Girl" can improve the survival rate of heart-changing mice: An interview with Teikyo University Medical Department lecturer Yasuhisa Uchiyama
Science Education Medical Health
What would be the impact of letting a mouse with a heart transplant listen to an opera? Ten years ago, a team of researchers at Teikyo University came up with this idea and later published experimental results, winning the “Medicine Prize ” of the Ig Nobel Prize.
Masao Uchiyama (41), a member of the research team and a lecturer in the university ’ s medical department, said the honor convinced him that “the value of uniqueness lies. ”
At present, he also works tirelessly to teach students to “pursue uniqueness. ”
Dressed as a mouse puppet at the awards ceremony.
In September 2013, Tatsuya Uchiyama, dressed in a mouse cloth doll, smiled on the stage of the Saunders Theater at Harvard University in Boston.
The idea of wearing a cloth doll on stage was put forward by Uchiyama, "I think that's going to be fun."
The reason was that he saw the popular role of the funny group "Funny Problem" in the TV show, and he bought a cloth doll at the $100 store and brought it to the awards ceremony.
He and another assistant, Kim Sang-won, put on a mouse puppet costume and stood at the side of the (then) Shin Sei-june, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at Teikyo University, who led the team, singing the opera “Camellia ” in high notes, causing laughter from the audience.
He recalled, "We were probably the most popular among the winners of the year, and the group photo time after the ceremony was the most sought-after," and his face was full of pride.
A special issue of Annals of Improbable Research, the magazine that organizes the Ig Nobel Prize. In 2013, Uchiyama and his party were also selected as the cover of the magazine.
Leaflet for a speech at MIT the next day.
Although Uchiyama showed a childlike side at the award presentation ceremony, Uchiyama ’ s research goal is to explore the field of transplantation immunology. After all, Uchiyama ’ s paper has even included a well-known surgeon, a special professor in Shuntian University ’ s medical department, who was famous for performing coronary artery bypass surgery. The name of the boss.
Let the mice after the heart transplant immerse themselves in music, and the result...
In addition to the original heart, another heart was implanted in the abdomen of the mouse.
After the operation, the mouse will do nothing, it will trigger an immune rejection reaction, and the transplanted heart will stop working for an average of 8 days.
However, most of the mice who also received heart transplants continued to listen to the opera “Camellia ”, and the average survival days were greatly increased to 40 days, and the longest lived mice were even as many as 90 days.
On the other hand, the average time to listen to Mozart ’ s music is 20 days, and the Irish singer Enya ’ s voice is 11 days.
To further confirm the validity of the results, let mice with ruptured eardrums listen to “Camellia ”.
Sure enough, as expected, the "effect" disappeared, and the transplant heart stopped beating about a week or so.
In other words, this experiment proved that allowing mice after heart transplantation to listen to the opera “Camellia ” or classical music can effectively improve their immunity.
Uchiyama is taking a closer look at the rat after the heart transplant.
The study began with the discovery of a young man who, while studying at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, gave a variety of drugs to most mice undergoing heart transplants and compared the prognosis, noticed a difference between the prognosis of mice placed in human cages and those placed in quiet cages around them.
After returning home, he suggested to an assistant in his personal research office, "Let the mice listen to music and see what happens?"
It also plays the sound of the construction site and the monotone sound.
The study was restarted about 10 years later.
At that time, Uchiyama was still a graduate student in cardio-vascular surgery in the Department of Medicine at Shun Heaven University, and came to Teikyo University to study organ transplantation.
Uchiyama heard his assistant speak of the past of "letting the mice after the heart transplant listen to the opera", and intuitively thought that "if you continue to experiment, you may get interesting results".
First, let most of the mice after the heart transplant listen to the opera "Camellia Girl", Mozart music, and the album of Enya, a very favorite singer Uchiyama at the time.
They also listen to the sounds of the construction site, English listening exercises and monotonic sounds.
As a result, as mentioned earlier, the survival period was extended in the order of opera, Mozart, and Enya, compared to rats that listened to nothing.
Incidentally, the reason why I chose "Camellia Girl" is because Shinkai is a fanatic who loves opera, and this opera is his most recommended.
Although Uchiyama and opera have no connection, but as a part of the research, I heard that she is listening to "Camellia Girl" all day long.
"To be honest, it's only pain for me," he said with a laugh.
Professor Amano also thought the experiment was interesting, but the paper was closed.
In this way, after Uchiyama has worked hard to collect experimental data that can be written into the paper, the next step is the beginning of the real test.
At the time, Professor Amano, who was the head of the medical department of Shun Tian University, said bluntly: “Although the experiment seems interesting, it should be difficult to write a paper. ”
As predicted, even though Uchiyama threw a lot of academic journals, they were returned without review and ate a closed door. In March 12, 2012, the British academic journal “Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery (JCTS) ” finally entered the review stage.
The paper was presented in the autumn of the previous year, and it has actually been 1 1 / 2 years before the review began.
Uchiyama said: "Because this experiment is very dependent on environmental factors."
To differentiate the sound of Camellia, Mozart, Enya, and the construction site, it is impossible to use scientific and objective evidence to show it, which increases the difficulty of examination.
A month after the award ceremony, it was presented at the Japanese Pulse Society (October 2013).
No matter what happens, people will be blessed by God ’ s grace.
The year after the publication of the paper in JCTS, the research team received a notification of the winner of the Ig Nobel Prize. Like many researchers, both novices and Uchiyama, at first thought that “this is a prank ” and did not think it, until they gathered the relevant information to know that everything seemed to be true.
“‘ Your idea is unique and admirable ’ and it makes me happy to be recognized by a third person who doesn ’ t know me. ”
The mountain says so.
This award benefited him a lot, and he realized that “you have to be confident in the results of your research that you believe in. ”
"Hope and vitality, as well as family support, are very important, and the results are interlinked," Shin said in a post-award interview.
In the clinical scene, patients who are thought to have only a few months of life have lived for many years. On the contrary, patients who are thought to have lived for many more years have died suddenly and suddenly, and often encounter these conditions.
However, through this research, we can be sure that “something ” that cannot be fully described in Western medicine is actually affecting the immune system through the brain.
In clinical settings, when patients know about the award, they sometimes ask, “If I want to recover early, what kind of music will help? ”
Uchiyama ’ s answer is to suggest that you first seek Western medical treatment, followed by “As long as it is music you like, listen to anything. ”
3 research topics recommended for the next generation
However, to say that Uchiyama is unique from a young age, in fact, it is not.
He said: “My personality is shy, and I have blushing phobia, and I am afraid to stand in front of everyone.
However, in high school, he realized that "if we continue like this, we will not be able to survive in society", and after working in college, he chose to be a tutor, forcing himself to endure and successfully overcome his fear.
Once a teenager with blushing phobia, now he has turned into an adult dressed as a mouse puppet standing on the stage of Harvard University singing dramatic music, human beings, really have unlimited potential.
On the contrary, Uchiyama has a strong belief from a very early age.
Both parents are teachers, under their advice, from junior high school into the affiliated senior secondary school of Ritsumeikan University, but the university did not choose to "direct admission", but decided to participate in the entrance examination of the medical department.
More than 90% of students in the upper middle school choose to go straight to the university, and it is not easy to concentrate on preparing for the exam in such an environment.
As a result, he communicated directly with the teacher, and continued to participate in extra-curricular tutoring in biology and English after school. On the contrary, the courses he considered “unnecessary ” were almost absent.
"At that time, people around me said he was a 'strange guy'," he said.
In 2017, he attended a dinner at the University of Cambridge.
Uchiyama told his graduate students, “Be prepared for three research topics at any time. ”
First, it is easy to write a paper of orthodox research; second, if the goal of life is to become a researcher, to think of research that can be invested in a lifetime; finally, "no one is doing unique research."
For Uchiyama, the experiment of heart transplant mice belongs to the third.
When he was further asked about the purpose of recommending the "unique study", he gave the example of "mountain climbing" to answer: "First, the first is to climb a mountain at a moderate altitude when the weather is clear; the second is to climb Mount Everest, which is like the highest peak in the world, although it is a high altitude and long distance mountain, but you can see the top; the third is because you do not know how high and what climbing paths there are." Ready to climb the mountain equipment on the start, all the way exclaimed: "No? Is the whole me?", can only rely on the emergency response to move forward, and arriving at the end will produce the kind of "Wow!"
It's really funny.
"I'm so impressed."
In other words, it is precisely those who have mastered their basic skills in the study of "orthodoxy" that have found a way to explore a landscape that no one has ever seen.
“With all the obstacles that arise in the course of research, how can we use theoretical and constructive attitudes to achieve our goals? This is an important training for researchers, and personal abilities will eventually bear fruit. ” Even if one person is better, I hope more people can embark on the journey to find the beauty that has not been discovered.
Such a heartfelt expectation.
Interview and arrangement: Nami Hamada, Editorial Department of POWER NEWS
All of the above photos are provided by Uchiyama.
Photo taken in March 2023 at Teikyo University Medical Department Hospital in Itabashi, Tokyo.
Nobel Prize for Research in Medicine

Emotional engagement, individual prior musical experience, and familiarity with the music critically moderate potential effects.

Reviews recommend selecting instrumental, familiar music with moderate arousal levels to minimize distraction and optimize attention during classroom activities.

Music with lyrics, complex structures, or unfamiliarity may reduce efficacy or interfere with language-dependent tasks .

Practical classroom case studies integrating classical or Mozart music during breaks or study periods offer some evidence of benefits in improving students' mood, reducing anxiety, and enhancing engagement and motivation.

These improvements appear more related to music's emotional and calming influence rather than direct cognitive enhancement.

While most reports remain anecdotal or lack rigorous control conditions, they align with the recommendation that musical choices be tailored to learners’ preferences and contexts.

Continuous monitoring and flexibility in selecting music types are essential for maximizing the positive impact of music in classrooms .

Though less directly relevant to child cognition, animal studies contribute to understanding music's broader physiological effects.

For example, a 2022 mouse heart transplant study showed that exposure to operatic and classical music, including Mozart, led to prolonged survival related to auditory stimulation.

These findings highlight music's role in stress modulation and immune function, which may indirectly support cognitive readiness and learning in humans by promoting well-being and reducing stress .

Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K. 448) remains the most frequently utilized and investigated piece associated with the Mozart Effect due to its balanced tonal structure and instrumental character.

Recent analyses confirm its harmonic richness and stimulating auditory qualities but emphasize that any cognitive benefits it may confer are short-lived and heavily dependent on individual listener differences.

Educators employing Mozart’s music in classroom settings are advised to prioritize such characteristics to minimize distraction and support attentive learning environments .

In conclusion, the Mozart Effect does not provide consistent or generalizable cognitive improvement in elementary students, particularly in spatial reasoning.

Its effects, when present, are fleeting and highly influenced by individual factors such as emotional regulation and prior musical experience.

For classroom implementation, playing instrumental, familiar, and moderately arousing classical music can support mood and attentional focus, indirectly benefiting learning conditions.

Educators should view music as a supportive tool to enhance engagement and emotional comfort, rather than a direct cognitive enhancer.

Personalization and ongoing assessment of students' responses to music are recommended as best practices for integrating classical music, including Mozart, into educational routines.


In ancient Egyptian culture, cats held a profoundly significant and sacred status, intricately linked to spiritual beliefs and daily life.

They were primarily associated with the goddess Bastet, who was depicted either as a cat or as a woman with a cat’s head.

Bastet symbolized well-being, joy, love, fertility, and protection, evolving from a war deity to a guardian of family and home.

Because of this divine connection, cats were seen as physical embodiments of these virtues and spiritual forces, securing their revered place in Egyptian society .

Cats held a dual role as both protective creatures and spiritual beings.

Their natural ability to control vermin preserved Egypt’s vital grain stores, granting them economic and practical importance.

More importantly, they were believed to ward off evil spirits and negative forces, a belief rooted in their mysterious demeanor and keen night vision.

This lent cats an aura of magic and spiritual guardianship, symbolizing protection and well-being for families and homes .

The reverence for cats extended into funerary and mourning practices, reflecting their deep integration into family life.

Egyptians mummified cats and granted them elaborate burial rites akin to those of humans, demonstrating belief in an afterlife for these animals and their continued spiritual significance beyond death .

Mourning the death of a family cat involved the practice of shaving one's eyebrows as a visible and symbolic gesture of grief, underscoring how closely cats were viewed as family members and guardians of the household .

In sum, cats in ancient Egypt were much more than pets; they were spiritual symbols of protection, prosperity, and divine grace.

Their association with the goddess Bastet and their role as protectors from evil elevated them to a sacred status, honored with religious rituals, legal protections, and mourning customs that speak to their unique and cherished place in Egyptian culture and spirituality.

In ancient Egyptian culture, cats held a profoundly significant and sacred status, intricately linked to spiritual beliefs and daily life.

Title:

Content: As before, cats were used to ward off evil spirits: try it yourself
Where did the idea that cats ward off evil spirits come from?
1: 39
Since ancient times, cats have been famous for their mystery and special abilities.
In the world of folklore and legends, they often act as protectors against evil spirits and evil forces.
In antiquity and the Middle Ages it was believed that cats have a special sacred gift that helps them protect their homes and their owners from unfavorable energies.
In Egyptian mythology, cats were considered sacred animals associated with the goddess Bastet.
They were depicted as defenders of the home, as well as patrons of the family.
In medieval Europe, cats were often associated with magic and witchcraft, leading to their persecution during the Inquisition.
However, among the peoples of Scandinavia and Great Britain, cats were often seen as a symbol of protection from evil spirits.
In Scandinavian mythology, cats were considered companions of warriors and guides of souls of the dead on Asgard.
They were also supposed to be able to see hidden worlds and predict the future.
In the English folklore tradition, the black cat was considered a symbol of good luck and protection from evil spirits.
In medieval England, it was even believed that the owners of black cats have a special charm and protection from misfortune.
In Scotland, it was believed that if a black cat visits a house, it brings good luck and well-being to the family.
Traditions and legends about the protective power of cats are preserved in the modern world.
Many people still consider their furry friends not only faithful companions, but also mystical guardians, able to scare away evil spirits and bring harmony to the house.
Author Ilya Panferov
Ilya Panferov — freelance correspondent of Pravda.Ru

They were primarily associated with the goddess Bastet, who was depicted either as a cat or as a woman with a cat’s head.

Title:

Content: The mummy of a pet: why and why did the ancient Egyptians do this?
1: 43
The Egyptians showed special respect for their pets, their love was so great that they wanted these animals to have eternal life.
After death, pets were mummified and went through a complex burial process.
In ancient Egyptian worldview, four-legged and feathered creatures were considered sacred, divine and influencing their destinies.
They occupied an honorable place in the pantheon, and the gods were often depicted with animal heads.
Mummification was an integral part of this religious practice, emphasizing the special status of these creatures in the eyes of the Egyptians.
The Egyptians mummified various animals, believing that their gods could take different forms.
For example, the goddess Bast, the daughter of Ra, was depicted as a cat or a woman with a cat ’ s head.
This goddess symbolized well-being, joy, love and fertility.
The Egyptians especially revered cats for their ability to exterminate rodents, which was critical for preserving grain stocks, then considered valuable as gold.
Cats have also earned the nickname “sunny eye ” due to their ability to see in the dark.
This property made them important symbols in Egyptian mythology.
Archaeological studies conducted at the ancient Egyptian necropolis of Qubbet el-Hawa have uncovered the burial of crocodiles, one of which has been preserved in the form of a practically whole mummy, providing a unique look at the ancient rites and veneration of animals in this culture.
Author Petr Deryabin
Petr Deryabin – journalist, correspondent of Pravda.Ru news service

Bastet symbolized well-being, joy, love, fertility, and protection, evolving from a war deity to a guardian of family and home.

Because of this divine connection, cats were seen as physical embodiments of these virtues and spiritual forces, securing their revered place in Egyptian society .

Cats held a dual role as both protective creatures and spiritual beings.

Their natural ability to control vermin preserved Egypt’s vital grain stores, granting them economic and practical importance.

More importantly, they were believed to ward off evil spirits and negative forces, a belief rooted in their mysterious demeanor and keen night vision.

This lent cats an aura of magic and spiritual guardianship, symbolizing protection and well-being for families and homes .

The reverence for cats extended into funerary and mourning practices, reflecting their deep integration into family life.

Title:

Content: The cat becomes the goddess Baxter! 2 Meow to look: Are you also suffering?
Editorial Center / General Report
2022-09-02 13: 35: 40
In Egyptian mythology, Bastet is the goddess of the head of the cat, also known as the goddess of the cat, the goddess of pregnancy and childbirth, who was once a goddess of war, and slowly transformed into the guardian of the family, symbolizing the warmth and joy of the family.
And the Japanese master uses "simple one thing", so that their two black cats into the goddess Bastet, they look at each other high and low, as if to comfort each other: "It seems that you can not escape the master's claws ah ~".
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On the 1st, the Lord posted a message saying that he put a fruit net on his cat ’ s head to make it look noble and cute, and his wife laughed and said that he was like the Egyptian goddess Bastet. Soon after he ate the marrow and made another cat change, and two black cats forced to become goddesses, one standing on a higher cupboard, with the door as the center. They look down at each other, and they look at each other with a thousand words in their eyes.
Netizens reply "My cat also has imitation haha", "round eyes are so cute", "Sorry, I did the same thing to my parents' cat" XDD "," My dog has been played by my wife before, but it looks good (laughs) ".
(Editor: Li Huiting)
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Egyptians mummified cats and granted them elaborate burial rites akin to those of humans, demonstrating belief in an afterlife for these animals and their continued spiritual significance beyond death .

Mourning the death of a family cat involved the practice of shaving one's eyebrows as a visible and symbolic gesture of grief, underscoring how closely cats were viewed as family members and guardians of the household .

Title:

Content: Kun Lun Dar's Spring Flower Autumn Moon
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Liang Shiqiu published an article in the "Adult" magazine, writing about the eight immortals in ancient wine, and mentioning the eight immortals in Shanghai, one of which is Han Jingqing.
A long time ago, I saw the "cat ride", Xu Dishan's article is often a shortened version - and later in some anthologies, only to see the full picture.
He also mentioned a book about cats, saying that there are 15 kinds of characteristics of cats, including the head, the eyes, the waist, the tail, and even the hair color, but it is also unlucky: the color of the inside is famous, some are in the snow, some are golden hairpin inserted in a silver bottle, and the black body with a white tail. "Kunlun Daji"... I used to write a novel with this title, and the content of it was not limited to women and cats.
Xu Dishan also found a lot of cat aliases in ancient times: Jin Yi Niang, silver sleeping aunt, whistling blue smoke, elegant and interesting - he should have been a very early cat lover in May Fourth.
Cats are lazy, often cold, sometimes warm, mostly hungry, they rarely show overly flattering behavior, and dogs are not the same.
Just seemingly ruthless, in fact, sentimental, think that the cat recognizes the house does not recognize people, there are exceptions, when it knows its own cat slave, a little close attachment, the cat slave naturally feel relieved and happy - the cat lover is mostly a loose and unwilling to be restrained group; dog lover is good at controlling, giving orders, the two are very different.
Some will love cats put on clothes and dress up one by one, in fact, this is the most bizarre... Although I have seen foreigners make cats into noble queens, lace skirts, crown on the head, eyes are cold and arrogant, in line with their temperament, but people and cats maintain a certain non-interference distance is the best.
However, at present, cat slaves are very spoiled, and they are no different from taking care of children.
In the past, Xu Dishan's "Spring Peach" was written in the story of a woman and two men, but he always felt that there was a cat's presence, in line with a certain kind of cat's perspective, the spring Peach's if nothing happened, is emotional and emotional.
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In sum, cats in ancient Egypt were much more than pets; they were spiritual symbols of protection, prosperity, and divine grace.

Their association with the goddess Bastet and their role as protectors from evil elevated them to a sacred status, honored with religious rituals, legal protections, and mourning customs that speak to their unique and cherished place in Egyptian culture and spirituality.


In Ancient Egypt, cats were deeply valued both spiritually and practically, occupying a unique and elevated position in society.

Their importance stemmed from a combination of religious reverence, practical utility, and cultural symbolism that permeated many facets of Egyptian life.

Spiritually, cats were closely linked to the goddess Bastet, who was often represented as a woman with the head of a cat or as a full feline figure.

Bastet symbolized protection, fertility, joy, and love, and was regarded as the guardian of homes and families.

This divine association elevated cats beyond mere animals to sacred beings that embodied Bastet’s qualities and provided spiritual protection against evil forces.

Worship of Bastet was widespread, with sanctuaries such as the one at Bubastis and catacombs at Saqqara containing mummified cats, underscoring their religious and ritual importance.

Practically, cats played a vital role as protectors of grain stores by hunting vermin, safeguarding one of the most critical resources in Egyptian society.

This functional role contributed to their esteemed status, with Egyptians recognizing cats as essential to the prosperity and sustainability of their communities.

Their ability to see in the dark led to poetic descriptions such as "sunny eye," linking their natural skills with mythological significance.

The reverence extended into death; cats were mummified through ceremonial practices typical of humans, reflecting a belief in their spiritual significance and the possibility of eternal life for these animals.

These elaborate funerary customs demonstrate not only a respect for the cat’s life but also their importance in beliefs around the afterlife and cosmic order.

A particularly poignant expression of this spiritual bond was the mourning practice of shaving the eyebrows upon the death of a family cat.

This rite manifested the deep emotional and religious grief Egyptians felt, symbolizing respect and sorrow for an animal considered a sacred companion and guardian.

The ritual reflects the integration of pets within family and religious life, showing that cats were not seen as mere property, but beings with spiritual essence and worthy of mourning rituals.

Archaeological findings further confirm cats’ elevated status.

Dedicated mummification workshops near Bastet’s temples illustrate the institutional care and religious investment made in cats.

Such evidence reinforces the notion that Ancient Egyptians conceived cats as divine creatures integral to their culture, spirituality, and daily existence.

Beyond their religious and practical importance, cats were also believed to influence human destiny and divine favor, making them creatures that bridged the human and divine realms.

This multifaceted role contributed to a worldview where cats were protectors, spiritual guardians, and symbols of wellbeing.

In sum, cats in Ancient Egypt were spiritually significant, practically valued, and culturally revered animals.

Their connection to Bastet, their protective function, their presence in funerary rites, and the emotional customs surrounding their loss collectively illustrate why Egyptians held cats in such high esteem.

The practice of shaving eyebrows in mourning exemplifies the profound reverence for cats, showing their unique place as both earthly companions and divine protectors within the ancient Egyptian consciousness.

In Ancient Egypt, cats were deeply valued both spiritually and practically, occupying a unique and elevated position in society.

Title:

Content: Home » Celebrating our fellow felines

Celebrating our fellow felines

by admin

Every August 8, animal lovers around the world come together to celebrate International Cat Day, a day dedicated to honoring and recognizing the presence and special role that cats have in our lives, this holiday has become an opportunity to highlight the importance of caring for and respecting our feline friends, as well as to raise awareness of the need to protect and preserve their well-being.

The role of the Cat in the History of Culture

Cats have played a significant role in various cultures and historical moments. From ancient Egypt, where they were considered symbols of divinity and associated with the goddess Bastet, to medieval Europe, where they were considered guardians of homes and farms due to their ability to keep rodent populations in check, cats have been around. present in human life in different ways.

In the Middle Ages, however, cats also faced hard times when they were linked with superstition and witchcraft, leading to persecution and slaughter. Fortunately, over time, the relationship between humans and cats has evolved towards a more harmonious and beneficial coexistence for both parties.

Education and care of cats

Photo: Pet City

Training a cat requires patience, understanding and knowledge. Here are some key tips to ensure your cat thrives happy and healthy.

Provide a suitable environment, make sure your home is safe and comfortable for your cat. Provide places for him to rest and hide, as well as toys and environmental enrichment to stimulate his mind.

Food and hydration, offers a balanced diet appropriate to the needs of your cat. It often provides fresh, clean water.

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Litter box, keep a clean and accessible litter box so your cat can eliminate. Clean the box regularly to avoid health problems and bad smells.

Health problems and bad odors. Socialization and Play Interact and play with your cat daily to keep him physically and mentally active. Play with toys and interaction with other animals can be beneficial

Veterinary Care Schedule regular visits to the vet to make sure your cat is up to date on vaccinations and health checks. This is essential to prevent and detect any medical problem in time.

Hygiene, brush your cat’s coat to keep it clean and reduce the formation of hairballs. Also, take care of their oral health by brushing their teeth or providing dental treats.

Respect and love, each cat has its own personality and needs. He respects his space and his quiet times, and show him love and affection according to his preferences.

fun facts about cats

Courtesy Week The sense of smell, although we don’t talk so much about their sense of smell as about their vision and hearing, cats have a highly developed sense of smell. They use their nose to explore and recognize the world around them. They are amazing, they are excellent jumpers and can jump up to six times their length in a single jump. This is partly due to the unique structure of their hind legs, which gives them great power and flexibility. Mysterious purr, cats are believed to purr not only when they are happy, but also when they are sick or injured. Purring could have healing properties and help in the regeneration of bones and tissues. Cats in space, the first cat to travel to space was named Felicette, also known as ‘Felix’. She was launched by the French Space Agency in 1963 and returned safely. Tail Communication Cats use their tails to communicate. A pricked tail usually indicates confidence and happiness, while a wagging tail could mean the cat is excited or agitated. Born hunters, domestic cats retain their hunting instincts. They can hunt insects, mice and other small animals, which is also a form of exercise and mental stimulation. Exceptional night vision, cats have cells in their eyes called rods, which allow them to see in low light conditions. Their night vision is up to six times better than that of humans.

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Their importance stemmed from a combination of religious reverence, practical utility, and cultural symbolism that permeated many facets of Egyptian life.

Title:

Content: The mummy of a pet: why and why did the ancient Egyptians do this?
1: 43
The Egyptians showed special respect for their pets, their love was so great that they wanted these animals to have eternal life.
After death, pets were mummified and went through a complex burial process.
In ancient Egyptian worldview, four-legged and feathered creatures were considered sacred, divine and influencing their destinies.
They occupied an honorable place in the pantheon, and the gods were often depicted with animal heads.
Mummification was an integral part of this religious practice, emphasizing the special status of these creatures in the eyes of the Egyptians.
The Egyptians mummified various animals, believing that their gods could take different forms.
For example, the goddess Bast, the daughter of Ra, was depicted as a cat or a woman with a cat ’ s head.
This goddess symbolized well-being, joy, love and fertility.
The Egyptians especially revered cats for their ability to exterminate rodents, which was critical for preserving grain stocks, then considered valuable as gold.
Cats have also earned the nickname “sunny eye ” due to their ability to see in the dark.
This property made them important symbols in Egyptian mythology.
Archaeological studies conducted at the ancient Egyptian necropolis of Qubbet el-Hawa have uncovered the burial of crocodiles, one of which has been preserved in the form of a practically whole mummy, providing a unique look at the ancient rites and veneration of animals in this culture.
Author Petr Deryabin
Petr Deryabin – journalist, correspondent of Pravda.Ru news service

Spiritually, cats were closely linked to the goddess Bastet, who was often represented as a woman with the head of a cat or as a full feline figure.

Title:

Content: Advertisement
NEWS
March 28 is Cat Respect Day.
The best reason to look at their photos (with respect!)
Today at 18: 23
History confirms that the love of mankind for cats has lasted for exactly more than four thousand years - this is one of the few animals worshiped in ancient Egypt.
And some of the goddesses, the most famous of which is Bastet, were even depicted with a cat's head.
In the Middle Ages, King Richard II of England issued a decree prohibiting the use of cats in food.
Some historians believe that this happened on March 28, 1384 - this is how the Day of Respect for Cats was born.
How can you celebrate this day with your pet?
• Spend time with her or him: caress, lie down next to him, play.
It seems obvious, but sometimes work and other things make you forget about literally everything in the world.
• Buy a new toy or delicacy - here even comments are not needed, this can definitely please the four-legged.
Perhaps you have not visited a veterinarian for a long time, and this holiday will serve as a reminder to show care of this kind.
After all, even if the pet seems healthy, it should be regularly shown to a specialist.
Twitter shares photos of their favorites
@ memesmymemes suggested that other users throw their cats and cats into the replays — but, of course, “do it with respect. ”
Commentators share frames of pets, and judging by the faces of many, it is better not to even approach them without respect.
“Go get me the fish, slave! ” – represents the speech of his furry companion @ purplenkii.
Read also
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Bastet symbolized protection, fertility, joy, and love, and was regarded as the guardian of homes and families.

This divine association elevated cats beyond mere animals to sacred beings that embodied Bastet’s qualities and provided spiritual protection against evil forces.

Title:

Content: As before, cats were used to ward off evil spirits: try it yourself
Where did the idea that cats ward off evil spirits come from?
1: 39
Since ancient times, cats have been famous for their mystery and special abilities.
In the world of folklore and legends, they often act as protectors against evil spirits and evil forces.
In antiquity and the Middle Ages it was believed that cats have a special sacred gift that helps them protect their homes and their owners from unfavorable energies.
In Egyptian mythology, cats were considered sacred animals associated with the goddess Bastet.
They were depicted as defenders of the home, as well as patrons of the family.
In medieval Europe, cats were often associated with magic and witchcraft, leading to their persecution during the Inquisition.
However, among the peoples of Scandinavia and Great Britain, cats were often seen as a symbol of protection from evil spirits.
In Scandinavian mythology, cats were considered companions of warriors and guides of souls of the dead on Asgard.
They were also supposed to be able to see hidden worlds and predict the future.
In the English folklore tradition, the black cat was considered a symbol of good luck and protection from evil spirits.
In medieval England, it was even believed that the owners of black cats have a special charm and protection from misfortune.
In Scotland, it was believed that if a black cat visits a house, it brings good luck and well-being to the family.
Traditions and legends about the protective power of cats are preserved in the modern world.
Many people still consider their furry friends not only faithful companions, but also mystical guardians, able to scare away evil spirits and bring harmony to the house.
Author Ilya Panferov
Ilya Panferov — freelance correspondent of Pravda.Ru

Worship of Bastet was widespread, with sanctuaries such as the one at Bubastis and catacombs at Saqqara containing mummified cats, underscoring their religious and ritual importance.

Practically, cats played a vital role as protectors of grain stores by hunting vermin, safeguarding one of the most critical resources in Egyptian society.

This functional role contributed to their esteemed status, with Egyptians recognizing cats as essential to the prosperity and sustainability of their communities.

Their ability to see in the dark led to poetic descriptions such as "sunny eye," linking their natural skills with mythological significance.

The reverence extended into death; cats were mummified through ceremonial practices typical of humans, reflecting a belief in their spiritual significance and the possibility of eternal life for these animals.

These elaborate funerary customs demonstrate not only a respect for the cat’s life but also their importance in beliefs around the afterlife and cosmic order.

A particularly poignant expression of this spiritual bond was the mourning practice of shaving the eyebrows upon the death of a family cat.

Title:

Content: Experts told where the expression “the cat cried ” came from
2022-11-12 13: 53
Language is unthinkable without phraseology.
Surely many of us have heard the expression “horse in apples ”,“ dog in the hay ”, “stupid as a goose ”.
The origin of the expression is easy to understand: cats were tamed thousands of years ago and lived next to people even more than other livestock.
The cat could also personify the gods: in Egypt, the goddess Bastet had the head of a cat, and in the Slavs, the god Veles could take the form of a cat.
Cats were always kept close to home, like mousetraps and amulets: the cat, according to legend, could negotiate with the spirits living in the places where they built a dwelling.
This is how the tradition of launching a cat first on a housewarming party was born.
From there, perhaps, and so close attention to these animals.
Of course, no one has ever seen tears in the eyes of cats.
Abundant secretion of eye fluid occurs only when the animal is sick.
At the same time, a similar phenomenon in cats is observed hardly more often than in other domestic animals, and why it was the cat who was honored to “cry ” about an acute deficiency, one can only guess.
However, there is another version, quite exotic.
It is associated with the so-called “difficulties of translation ”.
Here is a direct analogy with the "Jolly Roger", which was born as a result of the hearing of the English.
Perhaps the same was true of the Slavs.
In Arabic, there is the expression “qat nailaq, ” which literally means“ not enough money. ”
Probably, the Eastern peoples, which sharply ran out of the source of material goods, compared themselves with weeping animals.
This was as unthinkable as a sharp decline in income.
However, this version was not widely distributed.
Nevertheless, she has a right to life, especially since the crying cat and "kat nailak" have approximately the same meaning.
With the only difference that a crying cat symbolizes the lack of not only money, but also other things.
Posted by: Angelina Krent

This rite manifested the deep emotional and religious grief Egyptians felt, symbolizing respect and sorrow for an animal considered a sacred companion and guardian.

The ritual reflects the integration of pets within family and religious life, showing that cats were not seen as mere property, but beings with spiritual essence and worthy of mourning rituals.

Archaeological findings further confirm cats’ elevated status.

Dedicated mummification workshops near Bastet’s temples illustrate the institutional care and religious investment made in cats.

Such evidence reinforces the notion that Ancient Egyptians conceived cats as divine creatures integral to their culture, spirituality, and daily existence.

Title:

Content: The world 's first Shanghai Museum to hold the first exhibition with cats
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SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The People's Square Pavilion of the Shanghai Museum held its first exhibition with pet cats on Saturday (July 27), and 200 pet cats entered the museum that night under the leadership of their owners, setting a precedent for comprehensive museums in the world, reflecting the strong demand for Chinese people to travel with pets.
Comprehensive surging news network, Oriental network and other reports, with the top of the pyramid: ancient Egyptian civilization exhibition held, the Shanghai Museum since Saturday regularly launched a total of 10 museum strange night activities, inviting visitors to bring pet cats to watch the exhibition.
After the event tickets went on sale, the first 200 tickets sold out in one second, and all tickets for a total of 10 events sold out in one hour.
Many members of the public with pet cats arrived at the Shanghai Museum at 5: 30 p.m. on Saturday to wait in line, and the kittens in attendance attracted many passersby to stop and take photos.
Many relics on display are related to cats, including cat mummies.
In ancient Egypt, the cat god Bastet was regarded as a symbol of guardianship and spirituality; the ancient Egyptians worshiped the cat god, which coincided with the current people's love for "meow".
According to reports, pet visitors must go to the regular pet hospital in advance to issue a cat immunization certificate and present it when entering the museum.
Only certain areas in the museum exhibition hall allow pet cats to be photographed, but they must use their own traction rope and chest back; other areas need to be placed in their own cat bags and cat carts.
The event also invites pet doctors, pet emergency vehicles, pet management teams and other on-site personnel to deal with emergency situations.
Staff at the museum also receive professional training on pet cats.
According to incomplete statistics, there are more than 1 million pet dogs and more than 1.2 million pet cats in Shanghai.
As more and more pets enter the public space, many public places have successively joined the ranks of pet friendliness, and higher requirements have been put forward for fine urban management.
Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum, said that the demand for pet owners to travel with pets is strong, and on the premise of ensuring safety and order, it is hoped that the museum can be opened in different ways to allow the audience to have a more diverse experience.
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Beyond their religious and practical importance, cats were also believed to influence human destiny and divine favor, making them creatures that bridged the human and divine realms.

This multifaceted role contributed to a worldview where cats were protectors, spiritual guardians, and symbols of wellbeing.

In sum, cats in Ancient Egypt were spiritually significant, practically valued, and culturally revered animals.

Their connection to Bastet, their protective function, their presence in funerary rites, and the emotional customs surrounding their loss collectively illustrate why Egyptians held cats in such high esteem.

The practice of shaving eyebrows in mourning exemplifies the profound reverence for cats, showing their unique place as both earthly companions and divine protectors within the ancient Egyptian consciousness.