Comparative analysis of the effects of sound stimuli on physiological and cognitive processes in female volleyball players

We studied the influence of two contrasting musical genres – classical music (Ludwig van Beethoven) and heavy metal (Rammstein) – on physiological parameters (pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation) and cognitive functions (writing, attention, and memory). We recruited 20 professional female volleyball players aged 18 to 23 with at least five years of volleyball experience.
Our findings confirm that sound stimuli significantly affect physiological parameters and cognitive functions in female athletes. Classical music improves concentration, working memory, and task accuracy, while heavy metal reduces reaction time. These patterns show that a differentiated approach to using music is beneficial in the training process.
We proposed practical recommendations for using music to optimize training and competitive performance.