Prime Movers: Effects of Subliminal Primes, Music, and Music Video on Psychological Responses to Exercise

Abstract Background Priming is a process in which exposure to a stimulus activates relevant mental representations that are given increased weight in subsequent judgment tasks. Affective primes can influence affective evaluations and associations. Such influence has meaningful implications for the promotion of exercise behavior, yet there is scant research on priming effects in exercise settings. Purpose The purpose of the present pair of studies was to examine the efficacy of music (M), music video (MV), and music video with affective primes (PRIME) in modulating psychological responses during and immediately following an exercise bout among two distinct populations. Methods In Study 1, physically active participants completed a brisk walking task on a treadmill under four conditions: M, MV, PRIME, and control. Affective valence and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed during exercise and remembered/forecasted pleasure was measured immediately following each exercise bout. In Study 2, largely inactive and overweight participants completed a brisk walking task on a treadmill under two conditions: MV and PRIME. Affective valence was assessed during exercise, while exercise enjoyment and remembered/forecasted pleasure were assessed postexercise. Results In Study 1, PRIME yielded more positively valenced affect, remembered/forecasted pleasure, and lower RPE when compared to the other conditions (MCohen’s d for all DVs = 0.91). In Study 2, PRIME elicited more positively valenced affect, greater enjoyment, and enhanced remembered/forecasted pleasure when compared to MV (MCohen’s d for all DVs = 0.64). Conclusions Subliminal primes embedded in music video can elicit positive changes in psychological responses during and immediately following exercise. During exercise, exposure to music-videos containing positive subliminal messages prompts a more enjoyable experience than watching standard music-videos or listening to music.