To explore the synergistic antidepressant effects of music therapy combined with exercise and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

A depressive-like mouse model was established using the chronic restraint stress (CRS) paradigm. The effects of exercise alone and exercise combined with music were assessed. Behavioral alterations were evaluated using the elevated plus maze and forced swim tests. Hippocampal transcriptomic sequencing was performed to investigate potential molecular mechanisms by which music enhanced the antidepressant efficacy of exercise. Microglial activation was examined via immunofluorescence staining. Systemic inflammatory changes were quantified using RT-qPCR. Neuronal injury and synaptic plasticity were assessed using Nissl staining and Golgi staining, respectively.

Behavioral assessments showed that CRS induced distinct depressive-like behaviors, which were reversed by exercise and improved by the combined music-exercise intervention. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that music could enhance the antidepressant effects of exercise by modulating neuroinflammatory pathways. Immunofluorescence and RT-qPCR results indicated that the combined intervention could more significantly reduce levels of peripheral inflammatory cytokines and ameliorate systemic inflammation than exercise alone. Nissl and Golgi staining revealed that music combined with exercise more effectively mitigated depression-related neuronal damage, as evidenced by increased Nissl body abundance and enhanced dendritic spine density in the hippocampus.

The combination of music and exercise can more effectively improve depressive-like behaviors in CRS mice than exercise alone. This enhanced benefit may be associated with attenuation of neuroinflammation and improved recovery of neuronal integrity and synaptic plasticity.

To investigate the effects of music therapy on cognitive function and immunity of sleep-deprived mice and the potential underlying mechanisms.

A novel music therapy was developed by integrating elements from both Western and Chinese music. A sleep-deprived mouse model was established to explore the effects of the music combination on learning and memory of mice using Morris water maze experiments. ELISA was used to detect immune-endocrine indicators in the blood and saliva of mice and to study the effects of this music combination on IgA levels. Transcriptome high-throughput sequencing and B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoire sequencing were adopted to explore the potential mechanisms through which music therapy influenced IgA production.

The Morris water maze test revealed that the novel music therapy could promote the recovery of cognition and memory of sleep-deprived mice. Additionally, it was found that the music combination could increase IgA levels in both blood and saliva. Transcriptome high-throughput sequencing and BCR sequencing analysis showed that the music combination enhanced the abundance of the IgA immunoglobulin light chain variable region (Igkv4-53) and heavy chain constant region (Igha).

Music therapy can help restore cognitive function and increase IgA levels in sleep-deprived mice. The mechanism may be related to the enhanced abundance of immunoglobulin light chain variable region (Igkv4-53) and heavy chain constant region (Igha).