

Sutoo D., Akiyama K.

Brain Res. 2004 Aug 6; 1016(2): 255-62

Institute of Medical Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan


(Bold text emphasis by Martin Braun)


The investigation of the effects of music on the neurochemistry of otherwise well studied animals, like rats and mice, has been slow, because of widespread doubts if music could mean anything to these animals. How could such small animals possibly be interested in, or even affected by, strange acoustic games of humans? If there were an effect, it would probably be acoustical stress. Nothing could have been more wrong than this. As now reported by Sutoo and Akiyama, music for string orchestra by Mozart shifted the physiology of rats clearly towards relaxation or recreation. Systolic blood pressure decreased, and various tests indicated that this was due to an increase in serum calcium levels and brain dopamine levels. How such effects can be triggered in rats by acoustic order that is typical human remains a mystery. As had been suggested earlier, the exceptional temporal order of neural activity that music exposure causes in the auditory midbrain (inferior colliculus) may be the most promising candidate for further investigations. Perhaps the new results of Sutoo and Akiyama can lead to some more open-minded attitudes towards music effects in small animals.
(Comment Martin Braun)

The music that was played for the rats was the Adagio (3rd and slow movement) of Mozart's Divertimento in D (K205). An excerpt of it can be heard online here (piece No. 11, down on the playing list).

NOM Home