The Effects of an Auditory Stimulus on Exercise Duration

Abstract

The utilization of distractions while exercising has become an increasingly popular way to make the exercising experience as enjoyable as possible. Many previous studies have focused on the use of music as a form of distraction while exercising. This study tested the effect of podcasts as an auditory distraction while exercising. Participants were required to complete two brief periods of physical exertion. During one period of exercise, the participant listened to a podcast and during another period of exercise, the same participant heard no auditory stimulus. The percent change between baseline measurements and measurements recorded during exercise were calculated for heart rate and respiratory rate. Time to fatigue was also measured. The majority collected data was found to be statistically insignificant after analysis. From this study, it can be concluded that the use of podcasts as an auditory stimulus during exercise does not affect heart rate and respiratory rate when compared to baseline data. Time to fatigue was also not affected by the use of podcasts during exercise.