Music and trust formation: a scoping review of neurobiological convergence and research priorities

Introduction Trust is a cornerstone of human cooperation and social cohesion, while music is a universal phenomenon that promotes prosocial behavior and social bonding. Both music and trust processes engage overlapping neurobiological systems, yet their potential relationship remains largely unexplored. Methods We conducted a scoping review to systematically map existing research on music’s influence on trust formation, identify conceptual and methodological gaps, and characterize the current evidence base. The analysis included 15 empirical studies across interpersonal, clinical, robotic, and institutional trust contexts. We further performed a hypothesis-generating convergence analysis of neurochemical, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological findings from the broader music and trust literatures. Results The review revealed sparse but suggestive evidence that musical interventions may influence trust-related outcomes. Convergence analysis identified shared mechanisms in dopaminergic reward pathways, the salience and default-mode networks, and EEG markers of salience and affect. Importantly, these patterns are interpreted as theoretical and exploratory, rather than direct evidence linking music and trust. Discussion Based on these findings, we propose the Preparatory Optimization Hypothesis, which posits that music may not directly induce trust, but instead primes affective, cognitive, and social systems to support its formation. This work extends music psychology beyond emotion and prosociality to include foundational social-cognitive processes, offering a testable framework for future interdisciplinary research at the interface of music and trust.