2026/03/11 by Andrew Danso, Jasmin Hutchinson, Vesa Laatikainen-Raussi +7 · 1 voice
Neuroscience · Psychology · #Music Therapy and Health #Neuroscience and Music Perception #Sport Psychology and Performance
paper · doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103116
openalex publication_date 2026/03/11 · openalex created_date 2026/03/13 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
The present study examined the effects of self-selected music on exercise tolerance and related physiological responses during endurance cycling. Recreationally active adults ( N = 29) completed two time-to-exhaustion (TTE) trials at ∼80% of peak power output under counterbalanced conditions: music (self-selected, 120–140 bpm) and no-music. Participants cycled longer with music ( M = 35.61, SD = 14.01 min) than without ( M = 29.80, SD = 11.47 min), t (28) = 3.62, p = .001, dz = 0.67. Heart-rate (HR) analyses ( N = 27) showed greater cumulative cardiovascular load under music (AUC +15.4% vs no-music; t (26) = 2.40, p = .024), and a small isotime HR increase (+2.9 bpm, ∼+1.9%; t (26) = 2.75, p = .011). Music also extended the time participants tolerated suprathreshold effort, both in absolute ( p < .001) and proportional ( p = .005) terms. Total energy expenditure was higher with music (+69 kJ; +17%; t (28) = 3.34, p = .002), whereas energy-expenditure rate did not differ (+0.11 kJ·min -1 ; p = .652); post-exercise lactate was unaffected after controlling for TTE (cond. +0.32–0.39 mmol·L -1 ; p ≥ .265). Aerobic fitness (VO 2 peak) did not moderate the ergogenic effect ( r =−.28, p =.135). Despite longer performance and higher cumulative exposure, terminal responses (end %HRmax, %VO 2 peak, RPE, lactate) were similar (all p > .15). Qualitative data contextualized the participant experience. Results support the notion that self-selected music may facilitate tolerance of sustained effort consistent with altered tolerance of effort rather than improved metabolic efficiency. • Self-selected music increased cycling time-to-exhaustion by ∼20%. • Music increased time spent above anaerobic threshold without higher RPE. • Cardiovascular load was higher with music, but end HR and VO 2 were similar. • Energy cost per minute was unchanged; extra work came from longer duration. • Findings support a decision-based rather than capacity-based limit to tolerance.