LISTENING CLASSICAL MUSIC REGULATES GENES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRAIN FUNCTIONS
Although listening to
music is common in all societies, the biological determinants of listening to
music are largely unknown. According to a new study, listening to classical
music enhanced the activity of genes involved in dopamine secretion and
transport, synaptic neurotransmission, learning and memory, and down-regulated
the genes mediating neurodegeneration. Several of the up-regulated genes were
known to be responsible for song learning and singing in songbirds, suggesting
a common evolutionary background of sound perception across species.
Listening to music
represents a complex cognitive function of the human brain, which is known to
induce several neuronal and physiological changes. However, the molecular
background underlying the effects of listening to music is largely unknown. A
Finnish study group has investigated how listening to classical music affected
the gene expression profiles of both musically experienced and inexperienced
participants. All the participants listened to W.A. Mozart's violin concert Nr
3, G-major, K.216 that lasts 20 minutes.
Listening to music
enhanced the activity of genes involved in dopamine secretion and transport,
synaptic function, learning and memory. One of the most up-regulated genes,
synuclein-alpha (SNCA) is a known risk gene for Parkinson's disease that is
located in the strongest linkage region of musical aptitude. SNCA is also known
to contribute to song learning in songbirds.
"The
up-regulation of several genes that are known to be responsible for song
learning and singing in songbirds suggest a shared evolutionary background of
sound perception between vocalizing birds and humans," says Dr. Irma
Järvelä, the leader of the study.
In contrast, listening
to music down-regulated genes that are associated with neurodegeneration,
referring to a neuroprotective role of music.
"The effect was
only detectable in musically experienced participants, suggesting the
importance of familiarity and experience in mediating music-induced
effects," researchers remark.
The findings give new
information about the molecular genetic background of music perception and
evolution, and may give further insights about the molecular mechanisms
underlying music therapy.
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