Effects of Musical Pleasure on Dopamine in the Mesolimbic Reward System

Allen, Jade

Effects of Musical Pleasure on Dopamine in the Mesolimbic Reward System

Persistent URL

https://dspace.allegheny.edu/handle/10456/52045

Author(s)

Allen, Jade

Date Issued

April 9, 2021

Abstract

Music is a powerful stimulus capable of modulating emotional experiences that has roots in the mesolimbic reward pathway, otherwise known as the mesolimbic dopamine pathway or reward pathway. Dopaminergic neurons that project from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) release dopamine during pleasant musical exposure. Neural responses to pleasurable, rewarding stimuli can be measured by fMRI and PET scans of participants during exposure to pleasant music and the results from these neuroimaging studies seem to show a similar response among participants. Many mesolimbic and cortical structures are activated in response to rewarding stimuli such as the VTA, NAcc, neostriatum (NS), prefrontal cortex (PFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), caudate-putamen (CPu), hypothalamus and insula to name a few. Rodent models are used to investigate dopamine concentrations in these various areas and compared to functional and connective activations in human neuroimaging studies. Anhedonia is the overall loss of feelings of pleasure from otherwise rewarding stimuli and can be seen in healthy individuals with specific music anhedonia as well as in those with depression. Mesolimbic structures are activated less in individuals who experience anhedonia which in turn leads to less dopamine transmission. Therapeutic benefits of music therapy could help individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and specific music anhedonia by promoting positive emotional regulation after pleasant music exposure, but this possible therapy needs to be investigated further for clinical success in treating symptoms of anhedonia.

Major

Neuroscience

First Reader(s)

Rudolph, Lauren M.