An Analysis of Reward Pathway Engagement While Listening to Happy Classical Music
- Posted
- Server
- Preprints.org
- DOI
- 10.20944/preprints202507.2589.v1
While studies on the effects of harmonic classical music have been conducted, more research on human health is needed to help develop classical music as a therapeutic tool in healthcare. This review focuses on explorations of how classical music of different emotional tones, including sad, happy, and fearful music, affects the human neuron reward pathways. It examines evidence that happy classical music activates the ventral and dorsal striatum, which are the regions crucial for reward processing, motivation, movement, and more, thus buttressing dopamine release. This review also proposes future research directions, including better control of certain musical variables and addressing individual differences, to further push discoveries and our understanding of classical music’s impact on health.