Common and distinct neural correlates of music and food-induced pleasure: a coordinate-based meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies

Abstract

Neuroimaging studies have shown that, despite the abstractness of music, it may mimic biologically rewarding stimuli (e.g. food) in its ability to engage the brain's reward circuity. However, due to the lack of research comparing music and other types of reward, it is unclear to what extent the recruitment of reward-related structures overlaps among domains. To achieve this goal, we performed a coordinate-based meta-analysis of 38 neuroimaging studies (703 subjects) comparing the brain responses specifically to music and food-induced pleasure. Both engaged a common set of brain regions including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, ventral striatum, and insula. Yet, comparative analyses indicated a partial dissociation in the engagement of the reward circuitry as a function of the type of reward, as well as additional reward type-specific activations in brain regions related to perception, sensory processing, and learning. These results support the idea that hedonic reactions rely on the engagement of a common reward network, yet through specific routes of access depending on the modality and nature of the reward.

Rock ’n’ Roll but not Sex or Drugs: Music is negatively correlated to depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic via reward-related mechanisms

“…Importantly, the neurobiological mechanisms supporting responses to pleasurable stimuli are thought to play a crucial role in the regulation of well-being, life satisfaction and ultimately the expression of depression 70,71 . In this vein, music-one of the most rewarding abstract stimuli for human beings 46 -is strongly related to increases in psychophysiological arousal and to enhanced brain activity in core reward-related circuitry within the mesolimbic dopaminergic system [23][24][25][30][31][32][33]72 , especially, in more hedonic subjects 73,74 . Interestingly, the mesolimbic reward circuitry appears altered in individuals with depression, who suffer from anhedonia, reduced motivation and decreased energy level [75][76][77] .…”

“…Before completing several personality questionnaires (PAS 37,86,87 , Gold-MSI 39 among others), participants provided quantitative data regarding the number of days per week and hours per day that they spent, before and during the pandemic, engaged in five types of activities related to: music, exercise, drugs and alcohol, sex and food. We selected these five broad categories, from which more detailed data was collected, a priori, and based on the documented potential of these activities to induce reward and pleasure 25,32,90 . The presentation of the 5 categories was randomized for each participant so that neither activity was shown systematically before other.…”

“…Indeed, research consistently shows that music is an effective tool for modulating mood, regulating emotions and reducing stress, anxiety and/or depression in both healthy (including adolescents, adults and the elderly) and clinical populations [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] . Finally, accumulating evidence shows that music engages vast brain networks involved in emotion [23][24][25] . Of particular relevance-due to its putative role in positive affect regulation 17,[26][27][28] -is the evidence that music also engages the brain's dopaminergic reward system 25,[29][30][31][32][33] .…”

“…Finally, accumulating evidence shows that music engages vast brain networks involved in emotion [23][24][25] . Of particular relevance-due to its putative role in positive affect regulation 17,[26][27][28] -is the evidence that music also engages the brain's dopaminergic reward system 25,[29][30][31][32][33] .…”

“…The whiskers extend in both directions either to the limit (min or max) of the data or to 150% of the interquartile distance, whichever is less; any data points beyond the whiskers are classified as outliers and are represented by hollow circles. Severity interpretation of the DASS-21 depression scores: Normal (0-9), Mild (10-13), Moderate (14-20), Severe(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), Extremely Severe (more than 28).…”