Posted by scott-d-o on February 9, 2004, at 13:53:32
In reply to Re: Antidepressants and Music Centers in the Brain, posted by linkadge on February 8, 2004, at 14:08:59
> I am the same way. When I am depressed I wonder why I even have these CD's lying around, or why I waised 10 years of my life learning to play the piano.
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> Even though dopamine might be the commander of the music pleasure, I think norepinephrine is involved. I read a paper about it. It had to do with musicians using beta blockers to tame down nervous hands and hearts. The paper was questioning in detail how modification of the norepinephrine system might change performance.
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> Norephinephrine is heavely involved in selective attention. Being able to focus on one instrument or voice and tune the others out.
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> Linkadge
Marijuana allows one to focus on any one element of music better than any other substance I have ever taken, however, I doubt it shows much efficacy in treating ADD. ;-) Stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine are the most powerful dopaminergic and noradrenergic substances but always seemed to lower my appreciation of music. Opiates work well for this, maybe because they raise dopamine in the pleasure centers of the brain without causing the peripheral increases in adrenaline resulting in anxiety, as stims do. However, marijuana causes extreme paranoia/anxiety in me but the selective hearing effect is still present. Marijuana causes very modest increases in dopamine but it's ability to focus in on certain sounds must lie with the activation of cannibinoid receptors.Serotonin probably plays a role too; the hallucinogen LSD acts primarily as a partial agonist at 5-HT2a and 5-HT2c receptors and supposedly increase appreciation of music (never tried it.) How many times have people suggested to listen to the Beatles' Sgt. Peppers on acid or Pink Floyd's Darkside of the Moon on hallucinogenic substances? I suppose SSRI's could lead to a greater activation of these serotonin receptors as well. Although, obviously not to the same extent as hallucinogens. Atypical antipsychotics antagonize these receptors; anyone find they decrease appreciation of music?
I do agree dopamine and norepinephrine may play a role but this is definitely an extreme oversimplification.
scott
poster:scott-d-o
thread:310374
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040204/msgs/311305.html