Effects of music on perceptive and performance responses during high-intensity exercise: a systematic review

Music has the potential to produce several performance-enhancing effects on the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and power output, and these effects may be influenced by exercise intensity. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of music on RPE, peak and mean power during high-intensity intermittent exercise.

The databases searched for relevant studies included PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SportDiscuss, and PsycInfo, from their inception until December 2022.

A total of 318 were found, 9 studies attained the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analyses. Eight studies applied a sprint interval exercise protocol and one applied a long-duration high-intensity interval exercise. Out of the six studies that measured the  RPE, four reported no effect of music on this parameter. Four in six studies showed that music improved peak power and two in seven studies reported that music led to an improvement in mean power when compared to control conditions.

Therefore, music does not seem to reduce the  RPE or increase mean power, but it appears to have the ability to increase peak power during high-intensity intermittent exercise. The choice of music and timing of the intervention are important considerations when manipulating music during high-intensity intermittent exercise.