The MUSICare Project: Effects of Differentiated Music Exposure on Exercise-Related Affect Among Cardiac Rehabilitation Inpatients

Affective phenomena, such as core affect, remembered pleasure, or forecasted pleasure, play a key role in promoting physical activity (PA) behaviour, especially among inpatients. The use of music has been shown to be a particularly cost-effective and low-friction approach to promoting positive affective valence during PA. However, interventions using music to improve exercise-related affective phenomena among inpatients are lacking. This study will aim to investigate an intervention that combines the effects of music with the "peak-end rule" on core affective responses (valence and arousal), remembered pleasure, and forecasted pleasure associated with exercise sessions among cardiac rehabilitation inpatients.

The primary objective of the present study will be to examine the effect of differentiated music exposure on core affective responses, ratings of perceived exertion and psychophysiological responses to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), as well as on associated remembered pleasure, exercise enjoyment, and forecasted pleasure. A secondary objective will be to assess the potential mediating effect of affective valence at the end of the MICT on remembered pleasure and exercise enjoyment. A third objective will be to assess the effect of MICT with or without music on an emotional rating task, together with pupillometric measures. Finally, the study will examine the influence of remembered pleasure on subsequent forecasted pleasure.