Research conducted in China has revealed that listening to classical orchestral music can synchronize the brain’s auditory cortex with its rewards circuit, offering potential benefits for individuals dealing with depression.
Classical music is commonly used to induce relaxation and calmness in various situations. Recent studies have suggested that music has the power to heal us. Scientists in China have now explored the impact of musical sound waves on our minds and emotions.
Previous research has demonstrated that music triggers emotional responses in the brain. Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University focused on how listening to Western classical music can influence a specific brain circuit, potentially reducing symptoms of depression. While their findings show promise, they do not yet amount to a definitive cure for depression.
Dr. Bomin Sun, the senior author of the study and a professor at the Center for Functional Neurosurgery at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, explained, “Classical music has a calming effect on the mind and body, which can help regulate mood. Studies have indicated that listening to classical music can decrease anxiety, enhance sleep quality, and lower stress levels, all of which are important in managing depression.”
Sun and his team aimed to uncover the neurological mechanisms through which classical music exerts its antidepressant effects.
In a study published in the journal Cell Reports, researchers examined the effects of classical music on 13 individuals with treatment-resistant depression. These individuals had electrodes implanted in their brains for deep-brain stimulation purposes.
The researchers identified a phenomenon called “BNST-NAc oscillatory coupling,” which involves synchronizing the auditory cortex with the brain’s rewards circuit, as responsible for the antidepressant effects of music.
According to the university, music helped alleviate depression by aligning neural oscillations between the auditory cortex, which processes sensory information, and the rewards circuit, which processes emotional information.
The study revealed that the more the patients enjoyed the music, the greater the improvement in their mood. Sun noted, “The impact of subjective music enjoyment on antidepressant effects was more significant than anticipated.”
Better Mood Through Improved Oscillatory Coupling
The patients were divided into two groups: one unfamiliar with classical music (UF group) and one more familiar with it (FA group).
Patients listened to specific classical pieces while their brain activity was monitored. The researchers found that those in the FA group, who listened to music daily, showed better oscillatory coupling and reduced depression symptoms compared to the UF group.
When researchers introduced theta frequency noise to the music to enhance BNST-NAc oscillatory coupling, the UF group reported higher music enjoyment. Theta frequency tones align with brain wave frequencies during relaxation and sleep.
Interestingly, the emotional content of the music did not impact depression, anxiety, or enjoyment levels, suggesting that the therapeutic benefits of music may be independent of emotional responses.
Why Classical Music?
The researchers chose Western classical music due to the participants’ limited familiarity with it, reducing potential associations with memories and emotions.
Classical music has gained popularity worldwide in recent years, particularly among younger audiences. Its ability to resonate with listeners may be attributed to the observed oscillatory coupling effects.
Sun expressed optimism that their research could lead to practical music therapy tools for individuals with depression. He emphasized the importance of listening to preferred music genres for mood improvement.
Music therapy, Sun added, should complement other depression treatments like therapy and medication.
