The influence of self-selected music on affect-regulated exercise intensity and remembered pleasure during treadmill running.

This study explored the influence of self-selected music on affect-regulated exercise intensity and Remembered Pleasure.Seventeen active male and female participants (28.1 ±9.9 years; BMI 23.8±3.2kg/m 2 ; VO 2 peak 48.73±8.73ml.min -1 .kg - ) completed a maximal exercise test and each individual's ventilatory threshold (VT) was identified.Following this, two treadmill exercise trials were performed at an intensity that was perceived to correspond to a Feeling Scale value of +3 (i.e.'good').Sessions with either self-selected music or no music were completed 48 hr apart and in a randomized counterbalanced order.Affective responses (Feeling Scale) and heart rate were measured during exercise and Remembered Pleasure was measured 5-min post exercise.Results indicated that participants selected an exercise intensity that exceeded their VT during the two affect-regulated exercise sessions (p = .002,d = .99).Participants exercised with greater intensity during affect-regulated exercise with music than without (p = .045;d = 1.12) while maintaining a 'good' feeling.Furthermore, participants recalled the music session as more pleasurable than the no-music session (p = .001;d = .72).These results illustrate a positive ergogenic and psychological influence of music during affect-regulated exercise.Encouraging individuals to exercise at an intensity that feels 'good' elicits an exercise intensity sufficient to garner cardiorespiratory benefits and may lead to improved adherence.Moreover, the use of self-selected music appears to augment this effect.