Music may not boost focus or mood during exercise, review suggests

Music is commonly used during exercise and is often assumed to improve focus, mood, or mental performance. A new systematic review and meta-analysis led by researchers at the Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain at the University of Jyväskylä examined whether these assumptions are supported by experimental evidence.

The review analysed ten studies that tested the effects of music on executive functions (such as attention and inhibitory control) and on affective responses (positive or negative feelings) during short bouts of exercise. Across studies, the results showed no consistent effects of music on cognitive or emotional outcomes.

Rather than finding clear benefits, the researchers observed that results varied widely depending on the context or exercise setting. In particular, analyses suggested that music tended to show smaller or negligible effects during higher-intensity exercise and among older participant samples. Any apparent effects were inconsistent across studies and did not reliably generalise.

Specifically, they found that the effects of music were not stable or universal. Instead, outcomes appeared to differ based on factors such as how hard participants were exercising, who the participants were, and how the studies were designed.

“Music is often treated as a one-size-fits-all tool for improving exercise experiences, but when we looked carefully at the evidence, the effects were somewhat inconsistent. What seems to matter is the situation, how intense the exercise is, who is exercising, and how outcomes are measured. Without that context, broad claims about music’s benefits during exercise are not always supported.” Dr. Andrew Danso, leader of the study.

Overall, the review highlights the need for more rigorous and consistent study designs to clarify when music may, or may not influence cognitive and emotional responses during exercise.