Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have uncovered significant differences in how male and female mice respond to early sound exposure, specifically when exposed to the first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. The study, published in Cell Reports, offers insights into how early auditory experiences shape sensory preferences and brain development differently across sexes.
Kamini Sehrawat and Prof. Israel Nelken conducted experiments that demonstrated that early exposure to sound or silence can leave lasting effects on behavior and neural processing. The findings revealed a clear divergence between male and female mice in their responses to music and sound environments.
Distinct Responses to Sound Exposure
Male mice displayed a pronounced aversion to novel sound environments. Those that were exposed to silence or artificial sounds during their early development tended to avoid music as adults. Conversely, male mice that listened to Beethoven showed a broader range of musical preferences, with many gravitating towards music.
Female mice, however, exhibited a different pattern. Their preferences were less influenced by early sonic experiences. Notably, stronger neural activity in the auditory cortex correlated with a reduced liking for music among females, while such a connection was either weak or absent in males.
Sehrawat stated, “These results suggest that early sound exposure affects males and females in fundamentally different ways. What looks like the same experience at the surface may trigger completely different neural adaptations in each sex.”
Implications for Understanding Sensory Development
The research highlights the complexity of sensory development in mammals and suggests that the mechanisms underlying sound preferences operate uniquely in males and females. Prof. Nelken emphasized the importance of these findings, stating, “Understanding those differences could shed light on how early sensory experiences shape emotional and cognitive development.”
The choice of Beethoven’s symphony was not merely for artistic flair; it served as a structured, multi-frequency soundscape that engages much of the mouse hearing range. The outcomes of this study resonate beyond the laboratory, indicating that the same auditory experiences may evoke varying responses based on the listener’s sex.
As researchers continue to explore the nuances of auditory processing and its implications for behavioral development, these findings may pave the way for further studies on sensory experiences and their impact on both emotional and cognitive growth.
