Music Improves Energy Levels

By John OReilly (simplified by Freddie Gay)

Exercise and music

Many runners and gym members feel that music makes exercise more enjoyable. However， they might not know that scientists have found that some kinds of music can improve peoples energy by 15 per cent. This was discovered by Dr Costas Karageorghis at Brunel Universitys School of Sport and Education. Karageorghis has worked with organisations such as Nike and with many champion athletes. In the study， thirty people listened to inspiring music by Queen， the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Madonna. They did exercise at the same time.

Nerve communication ‘stopped

When they were doing exercise in time with the music， people showed higher energy levels. Even when they were doing very hard exercise， they were positive about how they felt. When people are doing exercise， their nerves send messages saying that their body is getting tired. However， when they are listening to music at the same time， these messages are blocked. Karageorghis thinks this is because the music causes part of the brain to send different messages to the body that make it feel happy and relaxed.

Different effects

Karageorghiss work shows that different types of music can have different effects on different people. The effect of some music can also depend on how tiring the exercise is. Karageorghis says that people who have extroverted personalities prefer faster and louder kinds of music compared to people who have a reserved personality. This is because， for the music to have an effect， the brains of extroverted people need more stimulation than the brains of reserved people. Reserved people want to feel less worried and so have better results when the music makes them feel relaxed.

Karageorghis was asked to provide music for the ‘Run to the Beat half marathon in the UK， which has also now started in other countries. ‘I also have lots of other exciting projects that I am working on， says Karageorghis. One of these is to find out if the speed of the music we listen to has an effect on our heart rate while we exercise.

Activity 1

Before you read， match the word or phrase to a definition.

1. block 2. extroverted 3. inspiring 4. nerves

5. marathon 6. personality 7. reserved 8. stimulation

a running race which is 42 kilometres long

the kind of person you are， such as shy， honest or happy

long and thin parts inside the body which carry messages to the brain

stop something from happening

making you feel like you want to do something more or better

something that makes you feel more excited

being happy， having lots of energy and enjoying being with other people

not showing or talking about how you feel; the opposite of extroverted

Activity 2

Complete the summary of the reading passage using one word from the text in each blank space.

In the past， athletes thought that music made exercise more 1. ______ for them. However， scientists have now proved that music really has a positive effect on their levels of 2. ______. Music has a direct effect on the brain and the 3. ______ that are carried to the rest of the body. The type of music is important. People with different attitudes need different kinds of music for this to work. For example， 4. ______ people need to listen to slower and more peaceful music than more cheerful people. The scientist who carried out the experiment is now completing other 5. ______ to see if music can make the heart move faster.

Activity 3

Use the past continuous for a （longer） background event in the past. Use the past simple for the （shorter） main event. Use when， as or while to connect the events.

· When they were doing （do） exercise in time with the music， people showed （show） higher energy levels.

In each sentence， change one verb to the past simple and one verb to the past continuous.

Example：

· When they were doing （do） very hard exercise， they were （be） positive about how they felt.

1. As Simon ____ （run） down the street， he ____ （fall） and broke his leg.

2. It ____ （start） to rain heavily while the children ____ （play） football.

3. When the Olympics ____ （take place）， everybody ____ （be） very excited.

4. Somebody ____ （steal） my bicycle while I ____ （sleep）.

5. As the scientists ____ （do） the experiment， they ____ （realise） that they had made some mistakes.

Activity 4

Do you feel that you have more energy when you listen to some kinds of music？ What kinds of music have this effect on you？

Can you think of any other kinds of effect that music has on people？

Answers

Activity 1

1. d; 2. g; 3. e; 4. c; 5. a; 6. b; 7. h; 8. f

Activity 2

1. enjoyable; 2. energy; 3. messages; 4. reserved; 5. projects

Activity 3

1. was running / fell; 2. started / were playing;

3. were taking place / was; 4. stole / was sleeping;

5. were doing / realised