Longevity and The Neurological Symphony: Exploring Music's Impact on the Brain

Vocabulary flashcards about Longevity, Neurobiology, and Music's Impact on the Brain

Senolytics

Class of small molecules or biological agents specifically designed to selectively induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in senescent cells.

Senescent Cells

Cells that have ceased dividing but remain metabolically active and often contribute to age-related tissue dysfunction and chronic inflammation- as they release harmful chemicals

Cellular Senescence

A state of irreversible cell cycle arrest that can be triggered by various stressors such as telomere shortening, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and oncogene activation.

Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP)

Pro-inflammatory and tissue-degrading mixture of factors secreted by senescent cells, including IL-6, IL-1β, MMPs, GM-CSF, and chemokines.

Mechansims of Senolytics

They evade apoptosis through pro-survival pathways: BCL-2/ BCL-xL, PI3K/AKT, p53/p21, HIF-1a, FOXO4-p53 interaction that target and eliminate senescent cells to improve tissue function and reduce inflammation.

Dasatinib (D)

A tyrosine kinase inhibitor effective against senescent human preadipocytes; used in combination with Quercetin as a senolytic agent.

Quercetin (Q)

A flavonoid that targets senescent endothelial cells and fibroblasts; used in combination with Dasatinib as a senolytic agent.

Navitoclax (ABT-263)

A BCL-2/BCL-xL inhibitor that induces apoptosis in senescent cells.

FOXO4-DRI Peptide

Peptide that disrupts the interaction between FOXO4 and p53 in senescent cells, reactivating p53-mediated apoptosis.

Similarities in PI3K/AKT in senescnece bs insulin signaling

Insulin upstream trigger

triggered by insulin binding afer food intake. goal- transient, controlled stimlation of metabolism

Senescence

triggered by DNA damage, oidative stress, oncogene activation, or telomere shortening → chronic cell response → pathways wich cross-talk with PI3K/AKT

transient signaling

breif and temporary. short term, reversible

Chronic Signaling

Prolonged and sustained activation, reinforcing long term growth arrest state adn resisting cell death

Scientific Basis Cellular senescence- RISKS

Cells stop dividing- has benefits and risks. Selective targeting, biomarks, tissue specifity, and sefety.

Neuron

Functional unit of the neural tissue, possessing excitability and conductivity, and incapable of division once fully formed.

Neurites

Cytoplasmic extensions of a neuron; dendrites conduct impulses towards the cyton.

Dendrites

Processes of a neuron that transmit impulses towards the cell body; typically short, tapering, and highly branched.

Axon

Single process of a neuron that conducts impulses away from the cell body; long, uniform in diameter, and branched only at the distal end.

differences between dendrites and axon

everything is different

Synapse

The junction between an axon ending of one neuron and the dendrite of another, separated by a microscopic gap where neurotransmitters facilitate impulse transmission.

Sensory Neurons

Sensory receptor neurons that connect sense organs with the central nervous system (CNS).

Motor Neurons

Effector neurons that connect the CNS to effectors (other nerves and muscles).

Interneurons

Connector neurons present in the CNS that occur between sensory and motor neurons for distance transmission of impulses.

Afferent Neurons

Sensory nerve fibers that carry impulses from the sense organs to the CNS.

Efferent Neurons

Motor nerve fibers which carry nerve impulses from the CNS to the effector organ.

Neurogenesis

The process by which new neurons are formed in the brain. Neural stem cells divide to produce new stem cells or progenitor cells, which differentiate into astrocytes, neurons, or oligodendrocytes.

Neural migration

Via radial glia or chemical signaling

Astrocytes

Cells in the brain that support communication between brain cells (neurons), stabilize the brain's protective barrier, and regulate neurons' balances of charged particles and signaling molecules.

neural networks

chemical synapses or electircal gap junctions. function: information processing, learning and memory, cognition, and behavoral control

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another, influencing the receiving neuron in an excitatory, inhibitory, or modulatory way.

Excitatory Transmitter

Promotes the generation of an electrical signal called an action potential in the receiving neuron.

Inhibitory Transmitter

Prevents the generation of an electrical signal called an action potential in the receiving neuron.

Acetylcholine

In the peripheral nervous system, it is released by motor neurons and neurons of the autonomic nervous system and in the central nervous system it helps maintain cognitive function.

Glutamate

The primary excitatory transmitter in the central nervous system.

Dopamine

Involved in many functions, including motor control, reward and reinforcement, and motivation.

Noradrenaline (or norepinephrine)

The primary neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system where it works on the activity of various organs in the body to control blood pressure, heart rate, liver function and many other functions. monoamine

Serotonin

Is involved in functions such as sleep, memory, appetite, and mood and is produced in the gastrointestinal tract in response to food. monoamine

Histamine

Plays a role in metabolism, temperature control, regulating various hormones, and controlling the sleep-wake cycle, amongst other functions.

nightmares

 cortisol ( stress and anxiety),  acetylcholine (vivid dreams during REM sleep), melatonin levels get messed up, and GABA.

Good dreams

 serotonin (:)),  dopamine (pleasure), oxytocin,  melotonin,  GABA

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

A calming neurotransmitter that helps reduce anxiety; nightmares can disrupt its activity, leading to increased anxiety and difficulty falling back asleep.

Oxytocin

Elevated by pleasant dreams, promoting feelings of bonding and emotional connection.

Ligand-Gated Ion Channels

Open to allow ions such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Cl- to pass through the membrane in response to the binding of a chemical messenger (i.e., a ligand), such as a neurotransmitter. (extra/intra cellular)

Voltage-Gated Channels

Open in response to changes in electric potential across the plasma membrane. (Na in nerve, muscle, endocrine cells)

Cochlea

Spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear containing hair cells responsible for converting sound waves into electrical signals.

Transduction

Mechanical energy (sound waves) converted into neural signals.

Auditory Cortex

Located in the temporal lobe, it is responsible for processing the basic elements (perceptual analysis) of music, such as pitch, rhythm, and timbre, and analyzing patterns.

Limbic System

Includes the amygdala (emotion), hippocampus (memory), and nucleus accumbens (reward); powerfully activated by music- explains why certain songs evoke strong memories and feelings.

Dopamine Release

The anticipation and experience of pleasurable music triggers

Emotional Contagion

Occurs when music's ability to evoke emotions in listeners leads individuals to experience similar feelings as the performer or composer, strengthening social bonds.

Neural Plasticity

The brain is remarkably adaptable, constantly reorganizing itself in response to experience, with musical training inducing structural and functional changes in various brain regions.

musical training → brain changes (neural plasticity)

 grey matter in auditory and motor cortices, Musicians show enhanced myelination and synaptic density, leading to better connectivity and cognitive flexibility. Neurotrophic factors (like BDNF) aid synaptic remodeling and LTP.

music physioloica impact

• Influences heart rate, respiration, and vagal tone via the parasympathetic nervous system.

• Slow-tempo music promotes relaxation by modulating HPA axis activity.

listening to music activates the

visual cortex (images match the music), hippocampus (triggers memories)

song lyrics activate

Brocas and wenickes areas- crucial for language production and comprehension

auditory cortex

analyses info from music- volum, pitch speed, melody, rhythm

cerebrum

memory recall of lyrics and sounds with images

cerebellum

coordination when moving in repsonse to music

limbic system

emotioinal connection to music

nucleous accumbens and amygdala

emotional reaction to music

prefrontal cortex

behavior, expression, decision making

motor cortex

movemnet while dancing or playing an instrument

corpus callosum

connects both sides of the brain

sensory cortex

controls tactile feedback while playing or listenin

auditory cortex

listens to sounds, perceives and analyzes toneshi

hippocampus

music memories, experiences, and context

visual cortex

reading music or looking at your own dance moves

cerebellum

movement while dancing or playing and emotional reactions

music neuroscience

neuroimaging shows real time brain responses, AI predicts music preferences, music therapy- genetic and neurophysioilogical data

pitch

1/10,000 hv perfect pitch. j and nj