The present research programme sought to further understanding of the neurophysiological
mechanisms that underlie the effects of music on exercise. Five original experiments were
conducted using a wide range of psychophysical, psychological, physiological, and
psychophysiological techniques. The results of the first study indicated that music partially
reallocates attention towards task-unrelated thoughts (i.e., external dissociation), suppresses
the amplitude of low-frequency waves in the brain, and enhances task performance. The
findings of the second study indicated that music can have a negative effect if delivered
during the execution of highly-demanding cognitive-motor tasks. In such instances, the right
parietal regions of the brain activate in response to the presence of auditory distractors and
prevent task performance from being compromised. The third study shed new light on the
neural control of working muscles and indicated that music has the potential to reduce the
frequency of electrical outputs emitted to the musculature and reduce the communication
between the central motor command and adjacent regions. The fourth study of this research
programme was conducted in an ecologically valid environment, wherein participants walked
at self-paced speeds in the presence of different auditory stimuli. The results of the fourth
study indicated that music elicits more positive affective responses and up-regulates beta
waves to a greater degree than no-music conditions. Finally, the fifth study of this thesis
made use of functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the brain regions that activate
in response to exercise and music. The results of this final study revealed that the left inferior
frontal gyrus is highly active when individuals execute part-body exercises with music. The
present research programme provides a neurophysiological basis for the use of music in
exercise settings. The findings presented herein support the use of music as a valuable tool to
explore more complex psychophysiological phenomena such as attention, affect, and fatigue.Brazilian Government (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel [CAPES]