The human species possesses two complementary, yet distinct, universal communication systems—language and music. Functional imaging studies have revealed that some core elements of these two systems are processed in closely related brain regions, but there are also clear differences in brain circuitry that likely underlie differences in functionality. Music affects many aspects of human behavior, especially in encouraging prosocial interactions and promoting trust and cooperation within groups of culturally compatible but not necessarily genetically related individuals. Music, presumably via its impact on the limbic system, is also rewarding and motivating, and music can facilitate aspects of learning and memory. In this review these special characteristics of music are considered in light of recent research on the neuroscience of the peptide oxytocin, a hormone that has both peripheral and central actions, that plays a role in many complex human behaviors, and whose expression has recently been reported to be affected by music-related activities. I will first briefly discuss what is currently known about the peptide’s physiological actions on neurons and its interactions with other neuromodulator systems, then summarize recent advances in our knowledge of the distribution of oxytocin and its receptor (OXTR) in the human brain. Next, the complex links between oxytocin and various social behaviors in humans are considered. First, how endogenous oxytocin levels relate to individual personality traits, and then how exogenous, intranasal application of oxytocin affects behaviors such as trust, empathy, reciprocity, group conformity, anxiety, and overall social decision making under different environmental conditions. It is argued that many of these characteristics of oxytocin biology closely mirror the diverse effects that music has on human cognition and emotion, providing a link to the important role music has played throughout human evolutionary history and helping to explain why music remains a special prosocial human asset. Finally, it is suggested that there is a potential synergy in combining oxytocin- and music-based strategies to improve general health and aid in the treatment of various neurological dysfunctions.

中文翻译：

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催产素神经生物学与人类音乐性之间的联系

人类拥有两个互补但又截然不同的通用交流系统——语言和音乐。功能成像研究表明，这两个系统的一些核心元素在密切相关的大脑区域中进行处理，但大脑回路也存在明显差异，这可能是功能差异的基础。音乐影响人类行为的许多方面，特别是在鼓励亲社会互动和促进文化相容但不一定具有遗传相关的群体之间的信任与合作方面。音乐，大概是通过它对边缘系统的影响，也是有益的和激励的，音乐可以促进学习和记忆的各个方面。在这篇综述中，根据最近对肽催产素的神经科学的研究，考虑了音乐的这些特殊特征，催产素是一种具有外周和中枢作用的激素，在许多复杂的人类行为中发挥作用，最近报道了其表达受音乐相关活动的影响。我将首先简要讨论目前已知的肽对神经元的生理作用及其与其他神经调节系统的相互作用，然后总结我们对催产素及其受体 (OXTR) 在人脑中分布的认识的最新进展。接下来，我们考虑催产素与人类各种社会行为之间的复杂联系。首先，内源性催产素水平如何与个人性格特征相关，然后是外源性、催产素的鼻内应用会影响不同环境条件下的信任、同理心、互惠、群体整合、焦虑和整体社会决策等行为。有人认为，催产素生物学的许多这些特征密切反映了音乐对人类认知和情感的多种影响，提供了与音乐在整个人类进化历史中发挥的重要作用的联系，并有助于解释为什么音乐仍然是一种特殊的亲社会人类资产。最后，建议将催产素和基于音乐的策略相结合以改善整体健康并帮助治疗各种神经功能障碍具有潜在的协同作用。以及不同环境条件下的整体社会决策。有人认为，催产素生物学的许多这些特征密切反映了音乐对人类认知和情感的多种影响，提供了与音乐在整个人类进化历史中发挥的重要作用的联系，并有助于解释为什么音乐仍然是一种特殊的亲社会人类资产。最后，建议将催产素和基于音乐的策略相结合以改善整体健康并帮助治疗各种神经功能障碍具有潜在的协同作用。以及不同环境条件下的整体社会决策。有人认为，催产素生物学的许多这些特征密切反映了音乐对人类认知和情感的多种影响，提供了与音乐在整个人类进化历史中发挥的重要作用的联系，并有助于解释为什么音乐仍然是一种特殊的亲社会人类资产。最后，建议将催产素和基于音乐的策略相结合以改善整体健康并帮助治疗各种神经功能障碍具有潜在的协同作用。提供与音乐在整个人类进化历史中所扮演的重要角色的联系，并有助于解释为什么音乐仍然是一种特殊的亲社会人类资产。最后，建议将催产素和基于音乐的策略相结合以改善整体健康并帮助治疗各种神经功能障碍具有潜在的协同作用。提供与音乐在整个人类进化历史中所扮演的重要角色的联系，并有助于解释为什么音乐仍然是一种特殊的亲社会人类资产。最后，建议将催产素和基于音乐的策略相结合以改善整体健康并帮助治疗各种神经功能障碍具有潜在的协同作用。