The Effect of Music on Physiological Chemicals

Abhishek Gangrade January 26, 2010

About Me
Biology Major Have taken both of Dr. Zachs classes Research in the Department of Immunology at ARB and at the Flow Cytometry Lab in the Cancer-Genetics Institute

Why Study the Effect of Music?

Involved in reducing anxiety and stress Perhaps reduce disease Induces pleasure and rewarding Non-invasive Used in clinical settings such as before surgery

What are the Chemicals?

Hormones Cytokines Neurotransmitters

Hormones
Produced by glands Endocrine- Secreted directly into bloodstream Exocrine- Secreted into bloodstream via duct Effect metabolism, reproductive cycle, immune system regulation, etc. Notable: Epinephrine, cortisol, testosterone

Cytokines
Chemicals secreted by cells Important in immune system regulation Effects cell death Autocrine (act on same secreting cell) Paracrine (act on different target cell) Notable: IL-6

Neurotransmitters
Transferred from neuron to neuron Travel through a synapse between presynaptic and postsynaptic cells Released due to action potentials Notable: Epinephrine, Dopamine, Bendorphin

Synapses

Dopamine
Acts on sympathetic nervous system Reduce blood pressure in hypertensive rats Increased dopamine level by playing Mozarts Adagio from Divertimento No.7 in D Major, K.205 Maybe useful for quitting smoking?

Cortisol
Usually referred to as stress hormone Relaxing music decreased salivary cortisol levels as opposed to silence

IL-6
Relevant to diabetes, prostate cancer, etc. Mozarts piano sonatas decreased IL-6 concentrations KV283: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFqKD Hn0Jro

Adrenaline/Epinephrine
Fight or flight mechanism Mozarts piano sonatas found to decrease adrenaline considerably

B-endorphin
Functions to numb pain, induce relaxation, and help immune system Has 80% analgesic effectiveness of morphine Techno Music found to increase Bendorphin production

Listen to these pieces

J. Strauss- Rosen aus dem Suden- peptides increased, mental state improved (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1-WxFaC7Rs) H.W. Henze- Viertes Streichquartett- prolactin increased (http://www.amazon.com/Hans-Werner-Henze-Streichquartett-15/dp/B000025R17) R. Shankar- Raga Rangeela Piloo- lowered plasma cortisol and noradrenaline (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzN2gUGYUGc) Sutoo, Denetsu and Kayo Akiyama. Music improves dopaminergic neurotransmission: demonstration based on the effect of music on blood pressure regulation. Brain Research 1016 (2004): 255 262. Mozart, Adagio from Divertimento No. 7 in D Major, K. 205

(http://www.classicalarchives.com/work/181746.h

tml)

Listen to these pieces

Levitin and Menon. The Rewards of music listening: Response and physiological connectivity of the mesolimbic system http://www.psych.mcgill.ca/labs/levitin/research/ musicsamples.html

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT7_Y 1pIBb4

Observed connectivities between NAc, VTA, and hypothalamus (dopaminergic pathway)

Issues to Consider
Do mice studies correlate with human behavior? Are the reactions specific to only particular types of music? Are the samples large and diverse enough to make conclusions?

Significant Papers
Conrad, Claudius et al. Overture for growth hormone: Requiem for interleukin-6? Critical Care Medicine Vol. 35 No. 12 (2007): 27092713. Sutoo, Denetsu and Kayo Akiyama. Music improves dopaminergic neurotransmission: demonstration based on the effect of music on blood pressure regulation. Brain Research 1016 (2004): 255 262. Suda et al. Emotional responses to music: towards scientific perspectives on music therapy. NeuroReport Vol 19 No 1 8 January 2008. Mockel, M. et al. Immediate physiological responses of healthy volunteers to different types of music: cardiovascular, hormonal and mental changes. European Journal of Applied Physiology 68 (1994): 451-459.