Cailen Andrews and Dr. Matt Wiggins at Washington Department of Kinesiology published an article “Effects of Music on Athletic Performance” reporting the link between listening to different music genres and the athletic performance of collegiate athletes.

According to Dr. Wiggins, arousal or mental/physical stimulation can have a significant impact on sports performance. By achieving or maintaining an optimal arousal state, athletes can perform better, both mentally and physically. Listening to music during exercise may serve as a tool to achieve and maintain this optimal arousal.

To achieve optimal arousal, athletes need to have as much control over their emotions
as possible.