(11) EFFECTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AROUSING AND RELAXING MUSIC ON MAXIMAL MUSCLE STRENGTH AND PRECISION

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if unfamiliar psychological arousing music (UAM) and unfamiliar relaxing music (URM) affects maximal strength (MS) task performance and precision task. Methods: Participants were recreationally trained adults (n=19), aged 18 – 35 years. Participants completed three sessions, the first being a familiarization session and the second two experimental trials. Participants completed a maximal strength and precision task using an isokinetic dynamometer during each experimental trial. The MS task consisted of a 5-second maximum voluntary isometric (MVIC) knee extension, and the precision task was performed using a test called “Roadway” on the isokinetic dynamometer. Roadway required participants to keep a cursor, controlled using knee extension and flexion, aligned with a dashed line using a trapezoidal contraction. Participants extended the knee from 90º to 0º for 3s, moving at a rate of 30º/second, then held isometric knee extension at 0º for 3s, then flexed the knee from 0º to 90º at 30º/second. Before performing each task, participants listened to either UAM or URM, and the third session music choices opposed from the previous session. Two-way mixed factorial analyses of variance (ANOVAS) (music [UAM vs. URM] x sex [males vs. females]) on peak torque (PT) for MVICs, coefficient of variation of flexion (CVF) and extension (CVE) for Roadway, and sum of maximum deviation (SMD) for Roadway. Results: Males had greater PT than females collapsed across music (p< 0.001). There were no significant differences for music or sex for CVE and CVF (p≥0.294). SMD was significantly greater for UAM compared to URM (p=0.033) collapsed across sex. Conclusions: These results indicate that though males exhibited greater overall PT than females, music selection did not play a significant role in maximal strength task performance. Precision task performance, as determined by the SMD, was affected negatively after listening to UAM vs. URM. These findings suggest that music type has little impact on maximal strength performance but may diminish precision-based motor control performances. Practical Applications: Music selection may not be as impactful on maximal strength. Therefore, practitioners, coaches, and athletes may have greater flexibility with music selection for this style of training, learning more on personal preferences. However, for training that requires more precision-based motor control, one may consider adjusting the environment accordingly to produce optimal performance, utilizing calmer, more relaxing styles of music. In the field of sport psychology, it must be acknowledged that there are individual differences; therefore, future research should consider assessing individual music preferences in conjunction with metrics of performance. Acknowledgements: None