Changes of the neurotransmitter serotonin but not of hormones during short time music perception

Abstract

We studied the impact of the perception of pleasant and unpleasant music, as rated by healthy subjects with a psychometric scale, on the hormones prolactin and ACTH. In addition, the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) was studied using the platelet model for central neurotransmission of 5-HT. We did not observe any significant changes of prolactin and ACTH during the perception of different kinds of music. The 5-HT content of platelets, however, was higher during the perception of pleasant music as compared to the perception of unpleasant music indicating an increased release of 5-HT during unpleasant music (748 mg/10⁹ platelets vs. 699 ng/10⁹ platelets; p < 0.014). The difference of the 5-HT level was significantly correlated to the score of unpleasantness as rated by the subjects. Our data suggest that perception of unpleasant music induces increased release and decreased peripheral and possibly also central intracellular content of 5-HT.