The relationship between music and exercise have long been explored. Physical activity alone stimulates various brain chemicals that leave you feeling happier and more motivated. When combined with music, they cross over the disciplines of biomechanics, neurology, physiology, and sport psychology. Music is known to trigger emotional responses, encourage rhythmic movement, improve moods, increase work output and induce states of higher functioning. “One could think of music as a type of a legal performance-enhancing drug.” (Karageorghis, 8)

Neuroscientists have discovered that listening to music heightens positive emotion through the reward centers of our brain.  Music stimulates a signal sent by the neurotransmitter dopamine that can make us feel motivated. Deep within the brain, underneath the cerebral cortex is the Limbic system. The structures of the limbic system are involved in motivation, emotion, learning, and memory. There are 4 main categories of Neurotransmitters in the human brain. The category Monoamines plays a role in the science of motivation. This is where Dopamine-producing neurons extend into neighboring motivational parts of the brain through the mesolimbic pathway. This is the most important reward pathway in the brain.  When there’s a release of dopamine in the ventral striatum it travels along this pathway and triggers an expectation of reward.

In a study performed by a team of Vanderbilt scientists including, postdoctoral student Michael Treadway and Professor of Psychology David Zald published on May 2, 2012.  They found that, “Go-getters who are willing to work hard for rewards had a higher release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in areas of the brain known to play an important role in reward and motivation, the striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. On the other hand, slackers who are less willing to work hard for a reward had high dopamine levels in another brain area that plays a role in emotion and risk perception, the anterior insula.” (9)

Another set of systems within the Limbic system is the basal ganglia. They are a set of subcortical structures that direct intentional movements. They receive input from the cerebral cortex, which sends outputs to the motor centers in the brain stem. Studies show that rhythmic music stimulates the basal ganglia and triggers involuntary movements to the beat. According to Dr. Nina Kraus, “Humans and songbirds are the only creatures that automatically feel the beat of a song.” The human heart wants to synchronize to music, and the legs want to swing.  Our bodies are made to be moved by music and they move to it.” (Kraus 8)

Although many people do not feel the need to run or move in exact time with their workout music, synchrony may help the body maintain a steady pace, reduce false movements, and use energy more efficiently. In 2006 the synchronization effect in running was tested by Simpson and Karageorghis. They found that, “motivational synchronous music improved running speed by .5 seconds in a 400 meter sprint, compared to a no-music at all.” Another study In 2003 by Atkinson, Wilson, and Eubank looked at how sixteen physically active subjects responded when listening to fast-paced electronic dance music over the course of a simulated 10km cycling time trial on a stationary bicycle. “The results were an increase of speed in the 1st km and the last, the 10th km, but the 5km-9km were the same.” It appears that the music provided motivation during the 1st km and dissociation during the last km. (9)

Listening to music also lights up other areas of the brain. Music moves us emotionally. Certain songs strike a particular emotional chord. listening to happy or sad music changes the way we perceive our surroundings. In a study in 2011 by researcher Jacob Jolij and student Maaike Meurs of the Psychology Department of the University of Groningen, shows that music has an even more dramatic effect on perception. “Even if there is nothing to see, people