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The Effect of Exposure to Music on Spatial Learning and Memory in Rats
Hilal Adil1, Güler Öztürk1, Burcu Çevreli2
1Department of Physiology, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Medical School, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Introduction:
The increase in spatial learning and memory performance caused by music is called the 'Mozart effect'. Increased NMDA receptor (NMDAR) expression plays a role in this effect. Inhibition of NMDARs reduces Prepulse Inhibition (PPI) % values. The study aims to investigate the relationship between the Mozart effect and the NMDAR expression.
Methods:
Rats were divided into 6 groups. Three groups listened to white noise (WN) while the other three groups listened to Mozart (M). After the rats were performed in the 8-arm radial maze test, one of the three groups in both sound environments was chosen as the control group and was injected with saline. For the remaining two groups, one was injected with ketamine and the other was injected with MK-801. Then all groups underwent the PPI protocol.
Results:
It was found that Mozart groups had higher memory errors. The M+MK-801 group had lower PPI% values with 74 dB prepulse compared to the WN+Ketamine group.
Conclusions:
While the Mozart effect was not observed, on the contrary, a decrease in memory performance was detected. The effect of music on NMDARs may be at levels that do not change PPI values. Considering that parameters like the duration and intensity of music may cause stress, repeating the experiment with different conditions may provide new clues.
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