Performance anxiety is a phenomenon that affects musicians in situations where their musical performance is or can be assessed and can be detrimental to their performance. This feasibility study aims to contribute to the preparation of future, more extensive research protocols that use the same technology and approach, providing critical data for the refinement of methodologies. In effect, a Neurofeedback protocol associated with fNIRS (functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy) was formulated and applied to 13 Portuguese musicians, amateurs and professionals, aged between 18 and 29 years. The protocol consisted, in a first phase, of carrying out a baseline task, in which participants were asked to try to relax before the first performance. Both performances were attended by a virtual jury. Next, the Neurofeedback session began, which involved performing three tasks with different purposes and difficulties, accompanied by an emotional thermometer, which the participants had to keep within the parameters indicated in the image. Finally, the musicians were invited to perform a second performance, also in the presence of the same virtual jury, but with a different twist: the jury's cameras were turned off. Although the results were not significant due to the small sample size, which prevents their generalization, they can be considered to provide valuable insights in the development of effective interventions with the same technique. The present study not only opens new doors for a better understanding of Neurofeedback associated with fNIRS, but also contributes to optimizing future interventions that use the same approach in music performance anxiety.
Date of Award | 17 Oct 2024 |
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Original language | Portuguese |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Sponsors | Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia |
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Supervisor | Patrícia Oliveira-Silva (Supervisor) |
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- Music performance anxiety
- Neurofeedback
- fNIRS
Um estudo de viabilidade sobre o uso combinado de neurofeedback e fNIRS na ansiedade musical de performance musical
Santos, H. G. (Student). 17 Oct 2024
Student thesis: Master's Thesis