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Music Reward Sensitivity Associated With Frontostriatal Function and Structure in Congenital Amusia

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Congenital amusia is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting musical ability. Previous studies have demonstrated that music reward sensitivity has both functional and structural bases. However, the nature of music reward sensitivity and its neural underpinnings in amusia remains unclear. This study combined the Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire and magnetic resonance imaging to investigate resting-state functional and structural correlates of music reward sensitivity in individuals with amusia. Behavioral results indicate individuals with amusia exhibit reduced sensitivity to music, including social rewards, mood regulation, emotional evocation, sensorimotor processing, and music seeking. Brain imaging revealed abnormalities in several classic cognitive and reward-related functional and structural brain areas. Specifically, individuals with amusia have abnormal resting-state functional activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) along with altered functional and structural connectivity between the IFG and the striatum. Notably, reduced sensorimotor sensitivity to music in amusia is associated with increased resting-state functional activity in the IFG and enhanced structural connectivity between the IFG and nucleus accumbens (NAcc). Furthermore, the function of the IFG appears to influence the sensorimotor sensitivity via the IFG-NAcc structural connectivity in amusia. These findings suggest the cognitive system and its interactions with the reward system play crucial roles in developmental music disorder.

Source: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1111/nyas.70125

Authors: Zhishuai Jin, Sizhu Huyang, Lichen Jiang, Qiaoping Lian, Daxing Wu

Institutions: Central South University, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Henan Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Neuroscience and Music Perception

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China