title: The neurochemistry of music.
abstract: Music is used to regulate mood and arousal in everyday life and to promote physical and psychological health and well-being in clinical settings. However, scientific inquiry into the neurochemical effects of music is still in its infancy. In this review, we evaluate the evidence that music improves health and well-being through the engagement of neurochemical systems for (i) reward, motivation, and pleasure; (ii) stress and arousal; (iii) immunity; and (iv) social affiliation. We discuss the limitations of these studies and outline novel approaches for integration of conceptual and technological advances from the fields of music cognition and social neuroscience into studies of the neurochemistry of music.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, QC H3A 1B1, Canada.
authors.forename: Mona Lisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chanda
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Levitin
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000502:physiology; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology; D009146:Music; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000502:physiology; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000502:physiology; D057181:Pleasure / Q000502:physiology; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000502:physiology; D012201:Reward; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D012933:Social Identification; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: D018847:Opioid Peptides; D012701:Serotonin; D010121:Oxytocin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004298:Dopamine; D006854:Hydrocortisone