One-HIIT wonder: Can music make high-intensity interval training more pleasant?

The use of music as an aid to recovery during and after exercise is an area of growing scientific interest. We investigated the effects of in-task, asynchronous music and respite–active music (i.e., music used for active recovery in between high-intensity exercise bouts) on a range of psychological, psychophysical and psychophysiological outcomes. Participants (N = 28; 14 females) made five laboratory visits for: (a) pre-test/familiarisation; (b) fast-tempo music during supramaximal exercise bouts and medium-tempo music during active-recovery periods; (c) fast-tempo music during exercise and no music during recovery; (d) no music during exercise and medium-tempo music during recovery; and (e) a no-music (throughout) control. A cycle ergometer-based HIIT protocol comprising 6 × 60-s bouts at 100% Wmax with 75-s active recovery was administered. Measures were taken at the end of supramaximal bouts and active recovery periods (RPE, state attention, core affect, state motivation), then upon cessation of the protocol (remembered pleasure and exercise enjoyment). Heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) measures were taken throughout. The music manipulations only had an effect on state motivation, which was higher (p = 0.036) in the fast tempo–medium tempo condition compared to no-music control (Cohen’s d = 0.49), and the SDNN component of HRV, which was lower (p = 0.007) in the fast-tempo–no-music condition compared to control (Cohen’s d = 0.32). Collectively, the present findings do not support any of the study hypotheses regarding the music-related manipulations, and do not concur with the findings of related studies (e.g., Karageorghis et al., 2021). The unexpected results are discussed with reference to extant theory, and recommendations are offered in regard to music-related applications.