The Effect of Music Exposure on Epileptic Seizures Induced by Pentylenetetrazole in Rats

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Mozart's Sonata K.448 on GABAergic activity using the prepulse inhibition (PPI) paradigm and to evaluate its impact on seizure susceptibility in a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epilepsy model.

Thirteen male Wistar albino rats (14 days old) were randomly assigned to control (n = 6) and music (n = 7) groups. The control group was exposed to white noise (65 dB), while the music group was exposed to Mozart's Sonata K.448 (65-75 dB), 12 h/day during the dark cycle for 10 weeks. GABAergic activity was assessed through PPI at 74, 78, and 86 dB intensities. Epileptic seizures were induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of PTZ (60 mg/kg), and seizure latency and severity were recorded.

No significant differences were observed between groups in %PPI at 74 dB (p = 0.542), 78 dB (p = 0.889), or 86 dB (p = 0.863). Seizure latency was longer in the control group (903.5 s vs. 80 s), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.098). Seizure severity scores were higher in the music group; however, the difference did not reach significance (p = 0.164).

Under the present experimental conditions, Mozart K.448 did not significantly modulate GABAergic activity as measured by PPI. The observed trends toward shorter seizure latency and higher seizure severity in the music group may reflect a possible context-dependent increase in excitability, although these findings remain preliminary due to the small sample size. Given the complex nature of music's effects, further studies employing larger cohorts, and complementary neurophysiological methods are warranted.