Music reward sensitivity is associated with greater information transfer capacity within dorsal and motor white matter networks in musicians

• DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02836-x
• Publication Date: 2024-07-25T09:02:28Z
• Authors: Tomas E. Matthews; Massimo Lumaca; Maria A. G. Witek; Virginia B. Penhune; Peter Vuust
• Keywords: Information Transfer

Abstract There are pronounced differences in the degree to which individuals experience music-induced pleasure linked variations structural connectivity between auditory and reward areas. However, previous studies exploring link white matter structure music sensitivity (MRS) have relied on standard diffusion tensor imaging methods, present challenges terms of anatomical accuracy interpretability. Further, MRS regions outside auditory-reward networks, as well role musical training, yet be investigated. Therefore, we investigated relation a large number directly segmented anatomically verified tracts musicians ( n = 24) non-musicians 23) using state-of-the-art tract reconstruction fixel-based analysis. Using manual tract-of-interest approach, additionally tested MRS-white associations networks seen studies. Within musician group, there was significant positive fiber density cross section right middle longitudinal fascicle connecting inferior parietal cortices. were also relations fiber-bundle cross-section left thalamus ventral precentral gyrus supplementary motor area, however, these did not survive FDR correction. These results suggest that, within musicians, dorsal crucial MRS, possibly via their roles top-down predictive processing auditory-motor transformations.