I was at the gym tonight and had my ipod shuffle with me as per usual…I was on an elliptical machine and had been on it for around 17 minutes so my heart rate had stabilized at around 150 BPM. A pretty calming orchestra type song came on there that was just steady and smooth, kind of upbeat and happy and my heart rate dropped to about 147bpm.
I thought it was kind of weird. What do you think?
It also made me try and think of some new sort of playlist for the gym… we will see what comes out of it.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Your_store 11.01.06 at 8:06 am
I think the ipod kit from nike changes the music playing according to your heartrate. Would test out myself, but I don't think sitting on my lazy ass would be much of a test.
Karen Spencer 11.30.06 at 2:22 pm
I'm a PT and did my masters' degree thesis on the subject of using relaxing music to decrease heart rate. It definitely works. In fact research into the effects of music and heart rate have been going on for centuries (yup - that's for real). One of my sources cited an experiment done in the 18th c on someone who had had a piece of his cranium shot off so you could see his brain. They observed the pulsations while playing different kinds of music! The other thing about using music while you are in the gym is that while relaxing music will definitely help to slow your heart rate, it will not promote increased effort at whatever activity you are performing. If you want to, say, do better in a spinning class or on an eliptical or treadmill, you need to use more stimulative music. You could program your MP3 player to play music that will first help you warm up, pace you to maximal effort and then help you cool down more effectively.
Sarah 01.26.07 at 9:42 am
I'm planing on doing this as my scinece fiare project. Its really intersting.
kendra 03.22.07 at 12:56 pm
i'm doing a science project on salsa dancing and heart rate effects!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
can u help me???????????????????????????????????
kendra a
Your's Truly 09.28.07 at 2:51 pm
Im doing this as my science fair project, and I've found that certain music and the tempo affects blood pressure and heart rate. Music relieves stress so naturally it makes your heart rate drop. age 14,Mary
Your's Truly 09.28.07 at 2:54 pm
I'm doing a science fair project on this and I have found that listening to classical and baroque music can significantly affect heart rate and blood pressure.
Chloe Conway 02.26.08 at 6:17 pm
Does your heart rate get sfected by the sound of music??????????????
the raider 04.14.08 at 2:52 pm
i need help on my science fair project its about music and the heart rate can u help me with it
mary 06.05.08 at 6:19 am
this is an interesting fact
so now we will try this and see if it work
it is gr8 to listen to music and it is really intresting how it can affect our heart rate at all times.
tanx for the idea
Ellie 11.06.08 at 6:43 pm
I am in 7th grade and I'm doing this topic [does music affect an active heart rate] for my science fair project. I've been studying this and I've found that upbeat music increases your adrenaline and heart rate and that slower tempos decrease your heart rate. Pretty interesting if you ask me. Hope i could help!
— Ellie Nicole ?
Sierra 12.05.08 at 1:40 pm
I was wonderiing if i caan use this science projecct.