Music, Autism and Dopamine

 

Whenever we engage in something enjoyable our body rewards us and produces dopamine, which is collected by receptors. Can this effect whilst listening to music be different for people with ASD, compared to non-Autistics having the same experience? One study suggests that the autistic brain reacts to music differently and will have different results in the dopamine receptor types and levels the body produces and the molecular link. This study tested Autistics and non-Autistics control groups with musical examples- 

People with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) are affected by a long-life disabling condition, characterized by communication deficits, severe impairments in social functioning, and stereotyped behaviours. Although ASD individuals display several problems in interactions, it has been reported that they may show a peculiar interest in music. Previous studies have suggested a pivotal role for the dopaminergic system in the psychobiology of reward, including the pleasure of music. In the present study, we sought to investigate dopamine DRD3 and DRD4 receptor expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes of adult healthy musicians and age- and gender-matched patients with ASD against the background hypothesis that the dopaminergic system may contribute a biological cause to the reward dimensions of the musical experience in both healthy and autistic individuals. […] Our current results provide intriguing preliminary evidence for a possible molecular link between dopamine DRD4 receptor, music and autism, possibly via mechanisms involving the reward system and the appraisal of emotions. Emanuele, E. et al

 

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