Effects of Combined Music and Caffeine on Psychophysiological Responses During Exercise: A Systematic Review and Exploratory Meta-Analysis
8 affiliations
- 1School of Sports and Exercise, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100088, China
- 2School of Leisure Sports and Tourism, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
- 3School of Physical Education, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
- 4School of Wushu, Henan University, Kaifeng 475000, China
- 5School of Strength and Conditioning Training, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
- 6College of Sports and Health, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
- 7Department of Sports Science, The University of Suwon, Hwaseong-si 18323, Republic of Korea
- 8School of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Abstract
Background: This systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis evaluated the effects of combined music and caffeine on psychophysiological responses during exercise. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched from database inception to 10 June 2026. Randomized crossover studies comparing caffeine plus music with placebo plus no music, caffeine alone, or music alone were eligible. Outcomes included rating of perceived exertion (RPE), Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), Feeling Scale (FS), and heart rate (HR). Findings were synthesized descriptively by outcome and comparator, considering study-specific effect estimates, confidence intervals, and experimental conditions. Random-effects meta-analyses were retained as secondary exploratory summaries. Because fewer than 10 independent studies were available, meta-regression and formal assessment of small-study effects were not undertaken. Results: Five crossover studies involving 88 participants were included. Study-specific RPE estimates varied from large reductions to estimates close to the null or in the opposite direction. PACES point estimates favoured the combined intervention, but their magnitudes differed substantially in comparisons with placebo plus no music and caffeine alone. Feeling Scale and heart-rate findings also varied across studies. All four primary meta-analyses showed I2 values exceeding 90%, and the certainty of evidence was very low for all primary outcomes. Conclusions: The available evidence comprises five small crossover studies conducted in different populations and experimental settings. Study-specific findings suggest possible improvements in exercise enjoyment, while perceived exertion, affective valence, and heart-rate responses vary across studies. Neither the descriptive findings nor the secondary exploratory pooled estimates establish a stable, broadly applicable magnitude of intervention benefit. Given the very low certainty of evidence, no firm recommendations can be made regarding the use of caffeine combined with music across exercise populations and settings. Further adequately powered studies using clearly specified interventions and comparable outcome assessments are needed to determine which responses are reproducible and practically meaningful.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026effects,
title = {{Effects of Combined Music and Caffeine on Psychophysiological Responses During Exercise: A Systematic Review and Exploratory Meta-Analysis}},
author = {Qinshuo Zhang and Honghan Xu and Junli Mo and Fucong Wang and Xing Gao and Chengyu Zhou and Zhuo Zeng and Xusong Dong and Dongxu Huang and Haoqiang Shi and Haoran Li and Kai Gao and Yongmin Xie and Aiguo Zhou and Diandong Lang and Bingbing He},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nu18203441},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/20/3441},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of Combined Music and Caffeine on Psychophysiological Responses During Exercise: A Systematic Review and Exploratory Meta-Analysis
AU - Qinshuo Zhang
AU - Honghan Xu
AU - Junli Mo
AU - Fucong Wang
AU - Xing Gao
AU - Chengyu Zhou
AU - Zhuo Zeng
AU - Xusong Dong
AU - Dongxu Huang
AU - Haoqiang Shi
AU - Haoran Li
AU - Kai Gao
AU - Yongmin Xie
AU - Aiguo Zhou
AU - Diandong Lang
AU - Bingbing He
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18203441
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/20/3441
AB - Background: This systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis evaluated the effects of combined music and caffeine on psychophysiological responses during exercise. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched from database inception to 10 June 2026. Randomized crossover studies comparing caffeine plus music with placebo plus no music, caffeine alone, or music alone were eligible. Outcomes included rating of perceived exertion (RPE), Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), Feeling Scale (FS), and heart rate (HR). Findings were synthesized descriptively by outcome and comparator, considering study-specific effect estimates, confidence intervals, and experimental conditions. Random-effects meta-analyses were retained as secondary exploratory summaries. Because fewer than 10 independent studies were available, meta-regression and formal assessment of small-study effects were not undertaken. Results: Five crossover studies involving 88 participants were included. Study-specific RPE estimates varied from large reductions to estimates close to the null or in the opposite direction. PACES point estimates favoured the combined intervention, but their magnitudes differed substantially in comparisons with placebo plus no music and caffeine alone. Feeling Scale and heart-rate findings also varied across studies. All four primary meta-analyses showed I2 values exceeding 90%, and the certainty of evidence was very low for all primary outcomes. Conclusions: The available evidence comprises five small crossover studies conducted in different populations and experimental settings. Study-specific findings suggest possible improvements in exercise enjoyment, while perceived exertion, affective valence, and heart-rate responses vary across studies. Neither the descriptive findings nor the secondary exploratory pooled estimates establish a stable, broadly applicable magnitude of intervention benefit. Given the very low certainty of evidence, no firm recommendations can be made regarding the use of caffeine combined with music across exercise populations and settings. Further adequately powered studies using clearly specified interventions and comparable outcome assessments are needed to determine which responses are reproducible and practically meaningful.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -