MUSIC FOR EXERCISE: How your brain reacts to music while working out

Why do I feel so energized when I listen to this song? Why it makes me want to run until my legs fall off?

The first thing that came to my mind was: what are the effects that music have in our bodies? So I did some research on the topic and I found something interesting that I did not know.

Costas Karageorghis and David-Lee Priest, two scientists from Brunel University at west London state in their article “Music in Sport and Exercise : An Update on Research and Application” that music enhances the body to feel less fatigue during workout. The study has shown that at moderate and light intensity workouts, music can dissipate the mind from getting tired. “During submaximal exercise, music can narrow attention, in turn diverting the mind from sensations of fatigue.” they state, “This diversionary technique, known to psychologists as dissociation, lowers perceptions of effort.” the “dissociation” technique basically means distracting the brain from the messages of fatigue that the body is sending because the impact of the music is blocking some part of them. Music also might increase positive mood for people and reduce negative mood during exercise. Thus, rising the levels of vigor and happiness of the athlete ( Karageorghis and Lee). At high intensity workouts however, the effects of tiredness annul the positive effects of music. The scientist prove this by saying that “… at high intensities, perceptions of fatigue override the impact of music, because attentional processes are dominated by physiological feedback, for example respiration rate and blood lactate accumulation.” ( Karageorghis and Lee).

They also indicate that the different rhythms of every kind of music can control the levels of anxiety and excitement. Melodies with positive messages and rapid beats can help an athlete to boost or energize for a competition. Melodies filled with loud and rapid tunes. Whereas smoother melodies help athletes to relax and release anxiety before any sporting activity. Along with the lyric composition of the sound which also have a special role on the athlete’s emotional aspects( Karageorghis and Lee).







How can music relate to the movements of the body? Apparently. if we adapt our movements to the beat of the music, it could make increase our ability. Adjustment of music with constant movements results in a greater gain on work. Karageorghis and Lee explain that the adjustment of music with constant movements results in a greater progress on work. The music’s tempo can control the pace of the movements;thus, raising effectiveness. In addition, it makes the body consume less oxygen;therefore, be more productive. In a study, the scientists proved that seven percent less oxygen was used from athletes listening to synchronized music rather than to non-synchronized one in an aerobic test ( qtd. In Bacon, Myers, & Karageorghis, 2008).

Several times I have seen places where babies are exposed to physical activity accompanied by musical motivation. I never knew the exact and scientific explanation for that, but as Karageorghis and Lee report in their article that music helps the learning of motor skills in sports and exercise. Music rhythms engage the body to explore within different movements, and develop more elegant displacement in sports. Also music patterns are very similar to body patterns which means that the body is well stimulated by the sounds, and it is going to provide good reactions to it. Along with lyrics of appropriate chosen music that can make emphasis on adequate techniques needed for an activity. “For instance, in track and field, the track “Push It” (by Salt-n-Pepa) is ideal for reinforcing the idea that the shot should be put, not thrown; throwing the shot is the most common technical error.” the experts explain. music also makes the sporting environment more amused; thus, enabling the players to acquire fundamental movements easier (Karageorghis and Lee).







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Dr Karageorghi’s studies have proven that the music can bring a greater attainment of “flow”, but what is exactly the meaning of the word “flow”? In an article posted at the London’s Run to the Beat half-marathon’s official website, he illustrates a clear definition:

Music promotes a state of optimal absorption and focus that is known by

psychologists as ‘flow’ and by athletes the world over as ‘being in the zone’. Flow

state is quite literally a higher state of consciousness that holds the key to your

optimal potential. It is characterized by numerous factors including a distorted sense

of time, a lack of negative self-judgements, a perfect balance between the

challenges you face and your level of skill, and immersion in your running activity.

By this he meant that basically the music encourages the athlete to obtain that “state of flow” easier;thus, making the athlete be more focused at the time of a competition,which is really important.

Now that we have seen each of the different positive effects that the music could make in our bodies, we are going to see what patterns or steps should be followed to select the adequate group of tracks depending on each situation that any kind of activity involving they human body may bring.

As Karageorghis and Lee illustrate the first fundamental step of selecting the right music, knowing the type of the activity is essential. exercises based on repetitive movements lend themselves to use music for better performance. music preferred by the athlete himself may be chosen because he is the one who is going to hear it;therefore, it must have some attraction to him. in addition, tempo and beat rate of music may be matched with the tempo of the activity,so there can be a good synchronization between the movement and the rhythm of the song (Karageorghis and Lee).







The second step to to take in account the level of intensity of each workout. Which could be light, moderate, or heavy.This three categories are mainly based on the heart beat rate. The slowest heart rate being the lighter intensity, and the fastest heart rate being the heaviest intense exercise. to obtain the heart beat rate needed, it is essential to choose songs with similar beat rate. Lets say: if one’s goal is to make an aerobic exercise at seventy-percent of one’s physical capacity, it is recommendable to set music between 115 and 125 bpm( beats per minute) to keep that seventy-percent running( qtd. In Karageorghis, Jones, & Low, 2006; Karageorghis, Jones, & Stuart, 2008). in addition, athletes tend to make an special effort in certain part of a song if it is well known by them (Karageorghis and Lee).

As a final step or recommendation that these two experts note, finding an acceptable way to deliver the music is essential. It is convenient not to disrupt other people with music while they do their own exercises,to use portable speaker equipment for a group of several athletes, and not to abuse from high volume since it could impair the ability to hear from athletes (Karageorghis and Lee).

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Now that we have seen the vast benefits of working out with music, go put on your headphones on and get to work.