Workout music and your supplementary motor cortex (muscles, lifting weights, gym)

[nifear]

Workout music and your supplementary motor cortex
Why do we like to listen to tunes when we exercise? Psychologist Tom Stafford searches for answers within our brains, not the muscles we are exercising.

Perhaps you have a favourite playlist for going to the gym or the park. Even if you haven’t, you’re certain to have seen joggers running along with headphones in their ears. Lots of us love to exercise to music, feeling like it helps to reduce effort and increase endurance. As a psychologist, the interesting thing for me is not just whether music helps when exercising, but how it helps.

Workout music and your supplementary motor cortex « Mind Hacks

[caligirlz]

I did not read the article, but I only listen to music (or podcast) when I'm on a cardio machine at the gym. I do not want the distraction when I'm lifting weights or if I'm doing cardio outside. I prefer to be aware of my surroundings.

[nifear]

uhm... ok

[caligirlz]

Oh, the article is written by a psychologist. Perhaps you would get more of the type of responses you are looking for in the psychology forum....

Edit: I scanned the article. I disagree with the authors speculation.

[jade408]

Music makes a huge difference. I find the pace of the music alters my pace. When I am ready to quite working out, if the right song comes on I have an extra burst of energy. The wrong song, and my energy wanes. I skip until the right song comes on at the end of my workout to pull it out.


I am on my phone, please forgive the typos.