What type of music should you choose to accompany a sporting activity? All our advice and information to understand its benefits.
How does the brain perceive and interpret music?
When the brain perceives music, even very simple music, a beautiful alchemy takes place. A set of distinct neurological processes combine to allow us to listen to music.
It's important to know that there isn't a single music center in the brain. Let's first explore the purely mechanical aspects that come into play when you listen to a beautiful melody. As its name suggests, this is the auditory cortex which plays the most important role in processing the sound of music. An integral part of the temporal lobe, the auditory cortex takes the information arriving in the ear and evaluates it in terms of pitch – that is, the frequency of vibrations – and volume of the sound.
Besides the auditory cortex, other parts of the brain process different aspects of music. For example, rhythm is known to play a minor role in this organ. Perceiving simple, regular rhythmic notes, such as tapping fingers to a 1-2 beat, involves the left frontal cortex, the left parietal cortex, and the right cerebellum. More unusual and complex rhythms involve other regions of the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum.
In addition to this perception, the brain must interpret the sounds it receives. This is known as the management of tonality. Tonality is defined as the construction of a musical structure around a central theme.
To interpret pitch, the brain involves other parts as well. The prefrontal cortex, the cerebellum, and numerous regions of the temporal lobe play a crucial role in our ability to recognize the pitch of any piece of music. It therefore appears that the perception and interpretation of music engage three of the four lobes of the human brain: the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes. Only the occipital lobe, responsible for visual processing, is not involved in this activity.
These elements are merely the basic mechanical aspects necessary for listening to music. Music has a deeper impact on the brain. We all know that a good song can trigger a cascade of secondary reactions, often involuntarily. A clear example is our tendency to move to the tempo of a song. We're not talking about dancing, which is an active and independent process, but simple movements we sometimes make without even realizing it. This is the case when you tap your finger on something while listening to a song. This is caused by the stimulation of neurons in the motor cortex.
What does musical rhythm bring to sport?
For most people, listening to music does indeed trigger physiological reactions. Upbeat music with a fast tempo and a high pitch can make us breathe faster, while sad music played at a slow, minor tempo can slow our pulse or even cause a rise in blood pressure.
Because we enjoy repetition, our brain constantly tries to predict what will happen next, based on a pattern like the rhythm of a song. This explains why we end up tapping our fingers or dancing to a tune.
Music's ability to make us feel good also brings other benefits. Leading experts have demonstrated that music can reduce pain. Furthermore, it can also improve our cognitive abilities. For those of us who listen to music while working or exercising, music can even improve endurance. This has been shown in several studies.
Just as silence doesn't help us be better drivers or more creative, it's not very useful when we're playing sports. As early as 1911, Leonard Ayres, An American researcher was able to demonstrate that cyclists pedaled faster while listening to music than they did without music.
This is possible because listening to music helps inhibit the signs of fatigue that the brain sends during the sport. When our body realizes we're tired and want to stop exercising, it sends signals to the brain, telling it to stop and take a break. Listening to music competes with the body for our brain's attention, allowing us to bypass these fatigue signals. However, caution is advised, as music is most beneficial for low- and moderate-intensity activities. During very high-intensity activity, music isn't as effective at capturing our brain's attention. Music also allows us to train longer and harder, helping us use our energy more efficiently.
What type of music should I listen to while exercising?
It is important to know how to choose your workout playlist. It's important to know that there's a limit to how beneficial music can be during exercise. This limit is around 175 BPM (beats per minute). Any higher tempo doesn't seem to add any extra motivation. Here are some frequency levels for a few musical genres:
– disco is at 120 BPM
– Pop music is at 110-140 BPM
– Hip hop is also at 110-140 BPM
– House music is at 120-150 BPM
– dubstep is at 140 BPM
– Rock music (and its variations) is between 110 and 160 BPM
When practicing sports, it is generally recommended to combine different tempos. This provides better synchronization and allows you to find the right rhythm for your sporting activity.
For a calm sporting activity
– slow, count between 100 and 110 BPM
– moderate, expect between 110 and 125 BPM
– fast, expect to pay between 125 and 135
For a more intense sporting activity
– slow, aim for between 140 and 150 BPM
– moderate, expect between 150 and 160 BPM
– fast, expect to pay between 160 and 175
Music makes us happy and adds a significant dimension to our sporting activities. Just keep in mind that everyone is different. Listen to your body and everything should be fine.
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