Musical practice and BDNF plasma levels as a potential marker of synaptic plasticity: an instrument of rehabilitative processes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of musical practice on brain plasticity. BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) is a neurotrophin involved in neuroplasticity and synaptic function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 48 healthy subjects of equal age and sex (21 musicians and 27 non-musicians). All subjects were administered the AQ (Autism-Spectrum Questionnaire) and plasma levels (PLs) of BDNF, oxytocin (OT), and vasopressin (VP) were measured in the blood sample of every participant. RESULTS: The difference between BDNF PLs in the two groups was found to be statistically significant (t = - 2.214, p = 0.03). Furthermore, oxytocin (OT) PLs and musical practice were found to be independent positive predictors of BDNF PLs (p < 0.04). We also found a negative correlation between BDNF PLs and AD (attention to detail) sub-scale score of AQ throughout the whole sample. Assuming BDNF PLs to be a marker of synaptic plasticity, higher PLs could be associated with the activation of alternative neural pathways: a lower score in the "attention to detail" sub-scale could imply greater flexibility of higher cerebral functions among musicians. Further researches should be conducted to assess the rehabilitative usefulness of these findings among patients affected by psychiatric disorders.