On performance and perceived effort in trail runners using sensor control to generate biosynchronous music

Williams, DAH; Fazenda, BM; Williamson, V; Fazekas, G

Abstract

Music has been shown to be capable of improving runners’ performance in treadmill and laboratory-based experiments. This paper evaluates a generative music system, namely HEARTBEATS, designed to create biosignal synchronous music in real-time according to an individual athlete’s heartrate or cadence (steps per minute). The tempo, melody, and timbral features of the generated music are modulated according to biosensor input from each runner using a combination of PPG (Photoplethysmography) and GPS (Global Positioning System) from a wearable sensor, synchronized via Bluetooth. We compare the relative performance of athletes listening to music with heartrate and cadence synchronous tempos, across a randomized trial (N = 54) on a trail course with 76 ft of elevation. Participants were instructed to continue until their self-reported perceived effort went beyond an 18 using the Borg rating of perceived exertion. We found that cadence-synchronous music improved performance and decreased perceived effort in male runners. For female runners, cadence synchronous music improved performance but it was heartrate synchronous music which significantly reduced perceived effort and allowed them to run the longest of all groups tested. This work has implications for the future design and implementation of novel portable music systems and in music-assisted coaching.

Citation

Williams, D., Fazenda, B., Williamson, V., & Fazekas, G. (2020). On performance and perceived effort in trail runners using sensor control to generate biosynchronous music. Sensors, 20(16), e4528. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20164528

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 30, 2020
• Publication Date: Aug 13, 2020
• Deposit Date: Aug 18, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 18, 2020
• Journal: Sensors
• Publisher: MDPI
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 16
• Pages: e4528
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s20164528
• Keywords: algorithmic composition, biosynchronous music generation, running, physical activity, music mediated perceived effort, music perception
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/s20164528
• Related Public URLs: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From MDPI via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for this article: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ **Journal IDs: eissn 1424-8220 **History: published 13-08-2020; accepted 30-07-2020