Longitudinal Changes in Auditory and Reward Systems Following Receptive Music-Based Intervention in Older Adults

This preprint reports longitudinal changes in auditory and reward system connectivity in older adults following a receptive music-based intervention. Participants who listened to personalized music playlists showed increased functional connectivity between auditory cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex, a key node in the brain's reward circuit. Self-selected music produced stronger connectivity gains than preselected music, highlighting the importance of personal relevance in therapeutic design.