Your Brain on Music: Working Out

A series by daughter, Caroline King.

Do you get bored easily while running or using the elliptical machine? Try working out while listening to music -- it may make your workout feel easier!

Our brains are constantly being bombarded with lots of different signals from different sources. Because there is far more information being sent to your brain than it can process, all the different kinds of information are competing for attention. When you listen to music while you work out, your brain is occupied by the auditory information and pays less attention to the "I'm tired" signals coming from your body, making you feel less fatigued! 

So if the thought of hopping on the treadmill makes you want to crawl back under the covers, try listening to your iPod while you work out! Your brain will forgive you for tricking it...