This is another one of those way outside my area of expertise, but I just have to write about it! I previously covered another study on Enhancing Running Performance by Coupling Cadence with the Right Beats in which I mentioned that when I listen to something while running, I listen to podcasts from The Skeptics Guide to the Universe for an “escape to reality” and not to music. This study just came up in my alerts and I could not resist writing about it:

HOW DOES MUSIC AID 5 KM OF RUNNING?.

Bigliassi, Marcelo; León-Domínguez, Umberto; Buzzachera, Cosme F.; Barreto-Silva, Vinícius; Altimari, Leandro R.

Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: July 15, 2014

This research investigated the effects of music and its time of application on a 5 km run. 15 well-trained, male long-distance runners (24.87 +/- 2.47 years; 78.87 +/- 10.57 kg; 178 +/- 07 cm) participated in the present study. Five randomized experimental conditions during a 5 km run on an official track were tested (PM: Motivational songs, applied before 5 km of running; SM: Slow motivational songs, applied during 5 km; FM: Fast and motivational songs, applied during 5 km; CS: Calm songs, applied after 5 km; CO: Control condition). Psychophysiological assessments were done before (functional near-infrared spectroscopy, heart rate variability, valence and arousal), during (performance time, heart rate and rate of perceived exertion) and after (mood, rate of perceived exertion and heart rate variability) tests. The chosen songs were considered pleasurable and capable of activating. Furthermore, they activated the three assessed prefrontal cortex areas (medial, right dorsolateral, left dorsolateral) similarly, generating positive emotional consequences via autonomous system analysis. The first 800 meters were accomplished faster for SM and FM compared to other conditions (P < 0.05); moreover, there was a high probability of improving running performance when music was applied (SM: 89%; FM: 85%; PM: 39%). Finally, music was capable of accelerating vagal tonus after 5 km of running with CS (P < 0.05). In conclusion, music was able to activate the prefrontal cortex area, minimize perceptions, improve performance and accelerate recovery during 5 km of running.

I will have to admit that this…

In conclusion, music was able to activate the prefrontal cortex area, minimize perceptions, improve performance and accelerate recovery during 5 km of running.

….is pretty damn impressive!

As always, I go where the evidence takes me until convinced otherwise and maybe I need to stop listening to the Skeptics Guide to the Universe and start listing to music!