Maternal music exposure during pregnancy influences reflexive motor behaviors in mice offspring

Evidence supports that music can modulate many physiological roles, exerting clear effects on the central nervous system. For this effect to be positive, music should be tuned at a frequency of 432 Hz. This study aims to determine the effects of prenatal exposure to music on reflexive motor behaviors in mice offspring. Six pregnant female NMRI mice (8-10 weeks old) were randomly and equally allocated into two groups. Group 1 as control was placed in a normal housing area (average room noise 35 dB), and Group 2 was exposed to music pitched at 432 Hz for 2 h a day played at constant volume (75/80 dB) during pregnancy. Following delivery, four pups from each pregnant mouse were selected, and reflexive motor behaviors including ambulation, hind-limb foot angle, surface righting, grip strength, front- and hind-limb suspension, and negative geotaxis were determined. Based on the findings, prenatal exposure to music significantly increased ambulation score, grip strength, and front- and hind-limb suspension compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Also, prenatal exposure to music significantly decreased hind-limb foot angle, negative geotaxis, and surface righting compared to the control group (P < 0.05). These results suggested that music exposure during pregnancy had a significant positive effect on all tested reflexive motor behaviors in mice offspring.