Western Classical Music: A Potential Breakthrough in Treating Resistant Depression

Western classical music could activate the brains of patients resistant to anti-depression treatments. A study found that music therapy might offer a personalized treatment option, working by harmonizing brain regions involved in emotion processing, thus providing a potential new therapeutic avenue.

Western classical music could offer new hope for patients who do not respond to conventional anti-depression treatments, according to groundbreaking research. Published in the journal Cell Reports, the study explores how specific music therapy could revolutionize how we approach treatment-resistant depression.

The study focused on 13 patients, observing how listening to Mozart and Beethoven impacted their brain structure. Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University discovered that music activates the extended amygdala circuit, which is crucial for emotional behavior. Deep-brain stimulation through implanted electrodes revealed the mechanisms behind the anti-depressant effects of music.

The findings suggest that music harmonizes activity between the auditory cortex and brain regions involved in stress management and pleasure. The study opens up possibilities for personalized music therapy, potentially offering clinically effective alternatives for patients resistant to traditional treatments.

(With inputs from agencies.)