Music intervention improves spatial learning and memory and alters serum proteomics profiling in rats

Music has a long history of healing or mitigating physical and mental illness in the clinical setting. We aimed to test changes in behavioral cognition and serum proteomics in rats undergoing music intervention (MI). The Morris water maze (MWM) was used to evaluate spatial learning and memory in rats. Serum protein expression profiling was examined using magnetic bead-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF-MS). MI improved spatial learning and memory in both male and female rats. Peak 1708.61 (m/z values) was significantly increased in MI females vs. female controls. Peak 3925.09 (m/z values) was significantly reduced in MI males versus male controls. The two differential serum peptide peaks (m/z values: 1708.61, 3925.09) were further sequence identified as regions of proteins Desmin and Acsm1. Western blot and immunofluorescence testing of Desmin expression showed consistent results on proteomics analysis. MI plays an important role in behavioral cognition and protein expression in rats. This study provides a foundation in proteomics that suggests that MI might improve spatial learning and memory ability.