Temporal analysis of the ergogenic effect of asynchronous music on exercise

Abstract

Several studies show that motivational asynchronous music can exert an ergogenic effect on submaximal intensity exercise. However, to date, no study has investigated whether motivation would continue after chronic exposure to this factor. The objective of this study was to examine the continuity of the ergogenic effect of asynchronous music on endurance running performance (time limit to exhaustion, Tlim) before and after a 4-week period of exposure to motivational music (musical saturation). Twenty-four subjects susceptible to motivational music were randomly divided into control (CG, n=12) and experimental (EG, n=12) groups. Both groups were subjected to endurance running for 4 weeks. Before and after this period, Tlim was measured with and without the use of motivational music in both groups. EG was exposed to musical saturation during the exercise sessions. The results confirmed the acute ergogenic effect of motivational asynchronous music; however, this effect did not continue after the saturation period. It can be concluded that, although motivational music exerts an acute positive effect on endurance exercise performance, a 4-week chronic exposure to this music appears to suppress its ergogenic effect.