Final answer:
The Mozart effect and its association with increased arousal were measured using the Vigor-activity subscale of the Profile of Mood States in the experiment by Thompson et al. (2001).
Step-by-step explanation:
The proposed explanation for the Mozart effect, specifically the increase in arousal, was assessed in the experiment by Thompson et al. (2001) through the Vigor-activity subscale of the Profile of Mood States (POMS).
This subscale is designed to measure the psychological constructs of vigor and activity levels, which are related to the concept of arousal. The POMS is a standard psychological assessment tool that evaluates mood states, including those associated with arousal.