Why music makes you stronger

Scientists from Northwestern University explain why athletes often listen to music before competition.

Researchers believe that music conveys a special charge of energy, setting the mood for victory. To further study the influence of musical compositions on the mental state of listeners, a special experiment was conducted.

31 pieces of music were selected for the study. All compositions were divided into 30-second fragments and classified according to sound power. For example, the invigorating songs We Will Rock You by Queen and Get Ready for This by 2 Unlimited were considered more powerful. Less powerful are the relaxing compositions Because We Can by musician Fatboy Slim and Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men.

Then the experiment participants listened to selected fragments, after which scientists studied their psychological state. It turned out that when listening to more powerful tracks, participants more often showed a tendency towards abstract thinking, felt control over events and confidence in victory.

To determine the influence of music specifically, text was excluded from the compositions. Then it became clear that tracks with powerful bass made listeners feel stronger. These participants were more likely to choose words associated with power.

Thus, scientists have found that music affects three indicators of the feeling of power: the desire to be the first to start in competitions, abstract thinking and a sense of control.

They explained this pattern with the “contagion theory.” According to it, when listening to certain music, sensations and experiences arise that correspond to it.