The vibe of musical and social reward: Listening to beat-based music acts as a surrogate for socioemotional support during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract Music listening is subjectively efficient in surrogating socioemotional needs during the Covid-19 pandemic, although underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We here challenge the generalizability of music-based coping by testing whether the insufficient satisfaction of distinct needs during the first lockdown entails enhanced listening to beat-based music with medium complexity (BBMMC) stimulating the cortico-striatal reward circuit and triggering oxytocinergic propagation. A Quasi-Bayesian mediation analysis on open-source data revealed that, across 11 European countries, more severe social distancing measures evoke a decline in experienced social provision (SP), in turn provoking BBMMC preferences. The latter was best predicted by the SP dimensions of social reward and attachment, suggesting that the partial overlap in neurophysiological processing at dopaminergic and oxytocinergic sites enables BBMMC to specifically alleviate these socioemotional needs, which has important implications for the development of mental health interventions. Finally, a stress-alleviating effect of BBMMC was found pointing towards HPA-activity modulation through music listening.