Music Alleviates Learning and Memory Impairments in an Animal Model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most prevalent disorder that occurs after experiencing life-threatening traumatic or stressful events. The most prevalent problems among PTSD patients are cognitive dysfunctions, including learning and memory impairments. Listening to music has constructive effects on brain functions, neurogenesis, and neuroplasticity, so the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of music on learning and memory in a rat model of PTSD. Fifty-six adult male Wistar rats (200–250 gr) divided into four main groups (control, music, PTSD, and PTSD+ music) were used. A single prolonged stress (SPS) method was used for inducing PTSD in rats. Anxiety-like behaviors and Cognitive functions were evaluated using the Open field, Morris water maze (MWM), and passive avoidance test. Findings demonstrated that SPS induced marked impairment in learning and memory, and anxiolytic behaviors in rats and exposure to music significantly ameliorated these impairments. It seems that music can modulate the destructive effects of SPS on learning and memory at a behavioral level.