Effects of Music Tempo on Performance, Psychological, and Physiological Variables during 20 Km Cycling in Well-Trained Cyclists

Abstract

Few studies have investigated the effects of music on trained athletes during high intensity endurance tasks. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of different music tempi on performance, psychological, and physiological responses of well-trained cyclists to time trial cycling. 10 male road cyclists (M age = 35 yr., SD = 7), with a minimum of three years racing experience, performed four 20-km time trials on a Computrainer Pro 3D indoor cycle trainer over a period of four weeks. The time-trials were spaced one week apart. The music conditions for each trial were randomised between fast-tempo (140 bpm), medium-tempo (120 bpm), slow-tempo (100 bpm), and no music. Performance (completion time, power output, average speed and cadence), physiological (heart rate, oxygen consumption, breathing frequency and respiratory exchange ratio), psychophysical (RPE), and psychological (mood states) data were collected for each trial. Results indicated no significant changes in performance, physiological, or psychophysical variables. Total mood disturbance and tension increased significantly in the fast-tempo trial when compared with medium and no-music conditions.

Effects of music in exercise and sport: A meta-analytic review.

“…Coding for researcher-selected and self-selected music was generally unambiguous, although there were studies in which participants selected music tracks from a list provided by researchers (e.g., Ruscello, D'Ottavio, Padua, Tonnelli, & Pantanella, 2014) and others in which researchers selected tracks from a list provided by participants (e.g., Crust, 2004a;Dyer & McKune, 2013). In these instances, we considered the range of music choices available to participants, and coded the former cases as researcher-selected and the latter as self-selected.…”

Physiological and Psychophysical Responses to Listening to Music during Warm-Up and Circuit-Type Resistance Exercise in Strength Trained Men

“…The results of the present study are consistent with those of previous studies that reported reduced RPE while listening to music. Nethery et al [ 20 ], Potteiger et al [ 7 ], Nethery [ 8 ], Yamashita et al [ 4 ], and Dyer and McKune [ 5 ] reported a decrease in RPE when listening to music while exercising. In contrast, Schwartz et al [ 10 ], Caria et al [ 21 ], Birnbaum et al [ 11 ], and Chtourou et al [ 22 ] did not find any significant differences in RPE when their subjects listened to music.…”

Music Tempo's Effect on Exercise Performance: Comment on Dyer and McKune

“…Of these musical qualities, the tempo and speed (bpm) are the easiest facets of music to manipulate . Several studies have found that music tempo aff ects performance ( Jarraya, Chtourou, Aloiui, Hammouda, Chamari, Chaouachi, et al ., 2012 ;Terry, Karageorghis, Saha, & D'Auria, 2012 ), whereas several other studies indicated no eff ect ( Mohammadzadeh, Tartibiyan, & Ahmadi, 2008 ;Dyer & McKune, 2013 ;Burket, Eubank, Reed, & Sanders, 2014 ). Inconsistent results can be explained by important methodological limitations verifi ed by Karageorghis and Priest (2012a) , such as choosing inappropriate measures to standardize music volume and controlling when the music will be played in relation to the task and using poor music-selection protocols.…”

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Dyer and McKune (2013) stated that music tempo has no infl uence on performance, physiological, and psychophysical variables in well-trained cyclists during high intensity endurance tasks. However, there are important limitations in the methodology of the study.

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“…Furthermore, the untrained subjects, to overcome the tiredness caused by high intensity exercise, focused their attention on the external stimulus, so they were more aff ected by the music ( Mohammadzadeh, et al ., 2008 ). However, both studies showed the same limitation as Dyer and McKune (2013) , because they did not identify qualities of music and preference music.…”