A study, led by Thomas Hans Fritz (Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig), with collaborators from the University of Leipzig (Nuclear Medicine), investigated whether listening to music activates the brain’s dopamine D1-receptor (D1R) system, particularly the phasic (burst-like) dopamine signaling, using simultaneous PET-fMRI imaging and the selective D1-receptor radioligand [11C]SCH23390.
Methods
- 15 healthy adults participated in a within-subject design.
- They underwent four scans: two during silence (neutral) and two while listening to music.
- Music included pleasant instrumental pieces and unpleasant versions (dissonant manipulations).
- Researchers measured striatal D1R binding potential (BP_ND) with PET and functional connectivity with fMRI.
Key Findings
- Music vs. Silence:
- Listening to music (regardless of whether it was pleasant or unpleasant) significantly reduced striatal D1R binding potential compared to silence. This indicates that music triggers phasic dopaminergic activation.
- Valence (Pleasant vs. Unpleasant):
- Pleasant music increased functional connectivity between the striatum and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC).
- Pleasant music also showed higher D1R binding in the insula compared to unpleasant music.
- Pleasantness ratings correlated with changes in prefrontal connectivity, but not directly with D1R binding changes.
- The effects appear driven by the temporal and arousing structure of music rather than emotional valence alone.
Conclusions and Implications
The study provides direct evidence that music engages the phasic D1-receptor system in the human brain, independent of whether the music is pleasant or unpleasant. Valence-specific effects appear in fronto-striatal connectivity and insular regions.
This suggests music could be a useful non-pharmacological tool to study or modulate D1R function in disorders involving dopaminergic dysregulation, such as depression, ADHD, schizophrenia, or Parkinson’s disease.
