The Effect of Music on Average Running Heart Rate and Lap Time
Daria Nahidipour, Sierra Mazzarini, Kalina Sepani, and Elahe Khodabandeh
Department of Biological Sciences
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Abstract
Music has been a recommended method for enhancing physiological performance in exercise.
For this reason, music has been prohibited from many athletic competitions. In our study, the
effect of Electronic Dance music (EDM) was tested on the physical response of participants and
compared to classical music. The investigators predicted that EDM would increase the heart rate
and decrease lap time. The study was conducted on college students (n = 12). Each participant
ran three laps around the Irvine Valley College tennis courts. The first lap was the control; the
second and third laps alternated between EDM and classical music for randomization. The
results for lap time differences were 2.70 ± 3.26 s (Mean±SEM) for the classical music and -6.61
± 2.00 s for EDM. The average heart rate, during classical run was -5.92 ± 6.15 bpm
(Mean±SEM) and for EDM was 6.33 ± 2.49 bpm. There was a statistically significant difference
in lap times (p=0.012, one-tailed paired t-test) and average heart rate while running (p=0.039,
one-tailed paired t-test). Therefore, the results supported the hypothesis that listening to EDM
music would increase the average heart rate and decrease running times more than classical
music.
Introduction
Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has commonly been associated with rave culture in the
United States and Europe. Music has been a recommended method for enhancing physiological
performance in sports and exercise. Music to some extent has a predictable effect on
cardiovascular system. A person's heart rate changes while listening to music, but whether the
heart beats faster or slower depends on the tempo of the music. A study done by Karageorghis
stated that higher tempo music had a faster effect on running time (2009). Understanding how
different types of music affect physiology is also important for future treatments for patients such
as for those with cardiovascular diseases. The study done by Bernardi et al. (2005) indicates that
appropriate selection of music can be used to induce relaxation and reduce sympathetic activity
and would be useful in the management of cardiovascular disease. Using the correct type of
music, this idea was used in elderly to see an increase in cognitive function when music and
physical exercise were combined (Satoh 2014). Therefore, music has neurological, physiological
and cardiovascular advantages. Each of these studies tested the effects of one type of music on
participants. The purpose of our study was to further analyze the effects of both EDM and
classical music on participants as opposed to without music. If EDM lap times and average heart
rate while running were faster than those with classical music, then EDM was determined to
heighten the physiological response of the participants more than classical music.
Materials and Methods
The following experiment was completed and carried out at the Irvine Valley College tennis
courts during Fall 2015. The EDM music used for this experiment was the song "You" by
Galantis and the classical music selected was "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven. "You" by
Galantis was found on songbpm.com to have 128 beats per minute (bpm), on this same site
“Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven was shown to have 75 bpm. The same two songs were used
for all participants.
The heart rate monitor used for this experiment was the Polar E600 Series Heart Rate Monitor
provided by Saddleback College. The sensors on the monitors were wet with water before being
placed directly below the chest of participants. The transmitter strapped around the volunteer and
tightened in order to obtain an accurate reading. Once the watch was synced to the monitor the
experimenters were ready to begin the trials.
The study was conducted on 12 subjects of 18-25 years of age. Our volunteers arrived at the
Irvine Valley College tennis court by their own transportation and willingly signed a consent
form to participate in the experiment. All participants were asked to refrain from eating at least
one hour before arriving, and followed these instructions. At the site of the study, all weather and
environmental data was recorded by the experimenters. Before starting any trials, the upper and
lower limit was set for each participant depending on their age. After arriving the participants
were instructed to sit on the benches outside for five minutes before collecting their sitting
resting heart rate. The resting heart rate will be used between runs to allow their heart rate to
return back to that recorded normal resting heart rate before they began the next run. The
participants then ran three laps around the Irvine Valley College tennis courts with
approximately 10 minute rest period in between runs. The first lap was used as a control, the next
lap they listened to EDM, and for the final lap they listened to classical music. For every other
participant the laps of listening to EDM and classical were switched to ensure that the data
recorded was not due to the order in which the laps were done (for some participants the EDM
was for their second lap while for other they listened to classical on their second lap).
The Polar transmitter with an adjustable elastic strap was fitted below the volunteer's chest
and the wrist receiver was placed on their wrist. The wrist receiver, or watch, was used to collect
the average heart rate while running. The time for each run was measured to the millisecond by
an experimenter on a Samsung phone. After each run, the heart rate data and times were recorded
with average heart rate, time spent above limits, time spent within limits, time spent below
limits, and also the final heart rate as soon as they ended their run. To prevent foul odors and kill
bacteria Lysol® disinfectant wipes were used to wipe down the equipment after use.
Results
After all of the participants completed the three trials, all the data was compiled and analyzed.
The order of the laps our participants ran were switched with every other participant for
randomization to ensure that the values obtained were not due to the order in which the laps were
run. Their control runs was the first lap, while the second and third laps with EDM and classical
were switched to ensure accurate data. The values shown in Table 1 were calculated by
subtracting their control run time from their time with music (either classical or EDM). A
negative value indicates that the participant’s time was faster while listening to the indicated
music while a positive value indicated a slower time. The results for time difference between
runs was found to be 2.70 ± 3.26 (Mean ± SEM) seconds for the classical music, while the EDM
was found to be -6.61 ± 2.00 (Mean ± SEM) seconds. Indicating that when the participants were
running while listening to EDM they ran faster than both their control runs and classical runs.
There was a statistical difference between the values obtained; these values were expressed in
Figure 1 with a one-tailed paired t-test performed and a p-value of 0.012 was found, thus
showing that the time difference was statistically significant.
The values found Table 2 were calculated in the same way. The average heart rate while
running during their control test was subtracted from their average heart rate while running with
music (either classical or EDM). A positive average heart rate difference indicates a faster heart
rate than their corresponding control run, while a negative value indicates a slower average heart
rate. The result for the difference in average heart rate during their classical run was -5.92 ± 6.15
(Mean ± SEM) beats per minute. While the result for the difference in EDM average heart rate
was 6.33 ± 2.49 (Mean ± SEM) beats per minute. These values, shown in Figure 2, had a
statistical difference as determined by a one-tailed paired t-test with a value of 0.039, showing
that this comparison of average heart rates was also significant.
Due to both time difference and average heart rate t-tests showing a significant difference,
this has confirmed our hypothesis that listening to EDM music while running would speed up the
average heart rate and running time over listening to classical music.
Time difference
Classical
EDM
5.02
-4.08
-7.92
-6.63
2
-3
11
-1
9.91
3.45
26
-12
-17.75
-15.9
-6.91
-7.91
10.19
2.24
-1.92
-4.12
-2.2
-11.34
5
-19
Average 2.70166 -6.6075
Table 1: The difference in values of classical and EDM music running time when compared to
the participants control run times. These values were obtained by subtracting the control run time
from run time with music (music time – control time = time difference). A positive value
indicates a slower time, while a negative value indicates a faster run time.
Average Heart Rate
Classical
EDM
3
8
-2
9
4
8
-46
-10
0
4
-55
28
5
3
-2
2
10
7
9
5
-2
2
5
10
Average -5.91667 6.333333
Table 2: The difference in values of classical and EDM music average heart rate compared to the
control run average heart rate. These values were obtained using the time with music and
subtracting the control run average heart rate from it (music AHR – control AHR = AHR
difference). A positive value indicates a faster average heart rate, while a negative value
indicates a slower average heart rate.
8
6
Time difference (s)
4
2
0
-2
-4
-6
-8
-10
Classical
EDM
Figure 1: The mean values of the time difference between runs. The data was obtained by
compiling all the participants’ data and finding the average. Error bars were calculated using
mean ± SEM. A paired, one-tailed t-test was run on this data (p = 0.012). There was a
significant difference between the values of the time differences of EDM music and classical
music.
Difference in Average Heart Rate (bpm)
10
5
0
-5
-10
-15
Classical
EDM
Figure 2: The mean values of the average heart rate difference between runs were found by
compiling all the participants’ data and finding the average. Error bars were calculated using
mean ± SEM. A paired, one-tailed t-test was run on this data (p = 0.039). There was a
significant difference between the values of the average heart rates while running of EDM music
and classical music runs.
Discussion
The results acquired throughout this experiment indeed supported the hypothesis, which was
that EDM heightened the physiological response of the participants more than the classical
music. Music has the ability to stabilize emotion and reduce stress. Intense emotions felt from
music are believed to be linked to increased levels of physiological arousal. In a research done
by Armon et al. (2011) music with a tempo of 120-130 bpm increased anxiety by increasing
blood pressure and heart rate, while slow tempo music of 50-60 bpm had the opposite effect on
the body.
Classical music has been used as a calming therapy due to its slow tempo. Lemmer
conducted a study testing rats and found that listening to Mozart resulted in a decreased heart
rate for the SHR (spontaneously hyperactive rat) subjects (2008). In another study, a faster tempo
induced increases in breathing rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and heart rate
(Bernardi et al., 2005). In a study done by Karageorghis et al. (2009) at Brunel University, the
results showed that running time with higher tempo music was faster and took participants longer
to tire out. Yet, they did not see a difference between the slower music and their control with no
music. However, a study by Copeland et al.(1991) showed that soft and slow music reduces
physiological and psychological performance, yet increased endurance performance.
Szabo et al. (1999) and Van Dyck et al. (2015), both showed that by listening to fast music
during progressive exercise there was a higher heart rate and faster cadence, while only Van
Dyke et al. compared this data with that of slower music to show that the slower music then
decreased the running cadence in runners. Most of the studies found showed that listening to
music with a faster tempo increased physiological response while slower tempo slowed down
these functions. Some studies had conflicting results, yet they all agree that music affects the
body in various ways.
Researching the effects of music on physiological response has much more to be studied. It
appears that the appropriate music during exercise would enhance the enjoyment and adherence
levels of the participants, however there could be multiple factors that influence these reactions,
such as their emotional states (Karageorghis et al. 1997). To confirm these findings, more
research needs to be done. These future experiments should investigate the effects of music on
physical and psychological performance to create music therapy, which could be used to treat
neurological, cardiovascular and psychological disorders.
Acknowledgements
We would like to credit professor Steve Teh and Saddleback College for allowing us to use the
heart rate monitors. Also we would like to thank all the participants for taking their time to come
out and participate in our experiment.
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