Affective responses to high-intensity interval training with continuous and respite music

Music has been shown to enhance affective responses to continuous exercise, but the most effective application of music during interval exercise is poorly understood. This study examined two contrasting applications of music designed to assuage the decline in pleasure often experienced during high-intensity interval training (HIIT). In a repeated measures crossover design, 18 recreationally active participants (10 men and 8 women; M_age = 25.1 ± 5.1 years; M_BMI = 23.08 ± 2.01 kg/m 2; M VO_2max = 38.82 ± 10.73 ml/kg/min) completed three HIIT sessions (10 x 60 s efforts at 100% Wmax, separated by 75 s recovery) on a cycle ergometer. Participants completed two experimental conditions: respite music (applied only during the recovery periods), continuous music (applied throughout the entire HIIT session); and a no-music control condition. Results indicated that music did not influence affective valence during the work bouts or recovery periods of the HIIT sessions (ps >.05), but that listening to music continuously elicited greater post-task enjoyment (p =.032, d = 0.66) and remembered pleasure (p =.044, d = 0.5). This study is the first to investigate the application of music during a practical HIIT protocol and to compare the effects of respite versus continuous music during interval exercise.