title: Pre-task music improves swimming performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pre-task music on swimming performance and other psychological variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized counterbalanced within-subjects (experimental and control condition) design was employed. Eighteen regional level male swimmers performed two 200-m freestyle swimming time trials. Participants were exposed to either 5 minutes of self-selected music (pre-task music condition) or 5 minutes of silence (control condition) and, after 1 minute, performed the swimming task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Swimming time was significantly shorter (-1.44%) in the pre-task music condition. Listening to pre-task music increased motivation to perform the swimming task, while arousal remained unchanged. While fatigue increased after the swimming task in both conditions, vigor, ratings of perceived exertion and affective valence were unaltered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded, for the first time, that pre-task music improves swimming performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil - brunosmirmaul@gmail.com.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Smirmaul
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Da Silva Neto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009146:Music / Q000523:psychology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult