Effect of listening to music and mental workload on body sway

Abstract

In this study we examined the effects of listening to music and mental workload (exercises of reciting figures backward and remembering fruits) on body sway of 16 healthy people (7 men and 9 women, average age 24.8 ± 3.7). The total length of sway path and circumference area as an index of body sway were significantly different among the three conditions: with no music, with music and with mental workload. Body sway under mental workload was significant larger than under the control condition (with no music). Body sway under listening to music had no significant differences. With this information, it was revealed that mental workload induced an increase in body sway that was greater than that of passive listening to music.