The effects of synchronous music on 400-m sprint performance

TLDR: Synchronous music can be applied to anaerobic endurance performance among non-elite sportspersons with a considerable positive effect and supported the first research hypothesis, that synchronous music would result in better performance than a no-music control, but not the second hypothesis that performance in the motivational synchronousMusic condition would be better than that in the oudeterous condition.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of motivating and oudeterous (neither motivating nor demotivating) synchronous music on 400-m sprint performance while controlling for the potential confound of pre-performance mood. A panel of volunteer Caucasian males (n = 20; mean age = 20.5 years, s = 1.2) rated the motivational qualities of 32 musical selections using the Brunel Music Rating Inventory-2. An experimental group of volunteer Caucasian males (n = 36; mean age = 20.4 years, s = 1.4) completed three 400-m time trials under conditions of motivational music, oudeterous music, and a no-music control. Pre-performance mood was assessed using the Brunel University Mood Scale (BRUMS). A series of repeated-measures analyses of variance with Bonferroni adjustment revealed no differences in the BRUMS subscales. A repeated-measures analysis of variance on the 400-m times showed a significant effect (F 1.24, 42.19 = 10.54, P < 0.001, η 2 = 0.24) and follow-up pair wise comparisons reveale...