Frightening Music Triggers Rapid Changes in Brain Monoamine Receptors: A Pilot PET Study

Frightening music can rapidly arouse emotions in listeners that mimic those from actual life-threatening experiences. However, studies of the underlying mechanism for perceiving danger created by music are limited. Methods: We investigated monoamine receptor changes induced by frightening music using 11C-N-methyl-spiperone (11C-NMSP) PET. Ten healthy male volunteers were included, and their psychophysiologic changes were evaluated. Results: Compared with the baseline condition, listening to frightening music caused a significant decrease in 11 C-NMSP in the right and left caudate nuclei, right limbic region, and right paralimbic region; a particularly significant decrease in the right anterior cingulate cortex; but an increase in the right frontal occipital and left temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex. Conclusion: Transient fright triggers rapid changes in monoamine receptors, which decrease in the limbic and paralimbic regions but increase in the cerebral cortex.