Elite athletes and performers are always looking for ways to enhance their performance. Recent research suggests that one simple habit can significantly boost brainpower, productivity, and performance: listening to music.
The Science Behind Music and Performance
- Research has long indicated that music can boost concentration and performance on cognitive tasks. It can also be a powerful tool for emotional regulation.
- A study from the New York University Tandon School of Engineering has begun to show how these two principles may work together.
- The study found that listening to exciting music enabled participants to register higher performance on cognitive tasks.
- This finding was inspired by the Yerkes-Dodson law, a psychological principle developed over a hundred years ago that models the relationship between stress and behavior.
The Yerkes-Dodson Law and Performance
- The Yerkes-Dodson law states that too little arousal (stress) causes boredom and decreases motivation. As arousal increases, so does motivation, leading to better performance at certain tasks. However, after reaching an optimal level of arousal and performance, further stress causes performance to decrease.
Figure 1: Yerkes-Dodson Law (Inverted-U Theory)
- In the NYU study, participants selected two types of music: calming music to mimic a low arousal environment, and exciting music for a high arousal environment. The findings indicated that participants demonstrated better overall performance when listening to the exciting background music. Their performance also conformed with the Yerkes-Dodson law.
Applying the Findings to Elite Athletes and Performers
- For elite athletes and performers, these findings have practical implications. If certain parts of your training or performance routine feel stale or monotonous, you might try curating a playlist of songs that get you going. You can arrange them in order of excitement, starting with a mild tune and progressing to more stimulating ones.
- The next time you find yourself getting distracted because you lack mental stimulation, try listening to your playlist as you train or perform. This may provide just the spark you need to boost your performance.
Conclusion
If you’re an elite athlete or performer interested in leveraging your brain to increase productivity and performance, learn from the Yerkes-Dodson law and decades of neuroscience research. Design your playlist to motivate, inspire, and touch your emotions. Then, get ready to find your flow.
Remember, the effectiveness of this strategy can depend on the specific strengths and weaknesses of each individual. It’s important to adapt and adjust your strategy as needed. All the Best with Your Training and Performance!