Abstract

RABELO, Paulo; MARMORA, Cláudia  and  RIBEIRO, Luiz. The effectiveness of HRV biofeedback in reducing musical performance anxiety: an initial study. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2018, vol.19, n.2, pp.197-207. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/18psd190203.

The musical performance anxiety is an exaggerated fear of performing in public, which generates due to strong activation of the autonomic nervous system, physiological symptoms extremely detrimental to performance, such as muscle palpitations, shortness of breath, blurred vision, dry mouth, sweating in hands, and increasing the level of muscular tension. Researches show that approximately 60% of the musicians present some type of anxiety related to the performance, which places the profession of musician in the group of high occupational stress professions. The most common forms of treatment have been the use of medications, especially beta-blockers, cognitive-behavioral therapies, and the Alexander Technique. This study evaluated the effects of HRV (Heart Rate Variability) biofeedback training in the musical performance of 12 undergraduate students in Music of UFJF. The results were submitted to a statistical analysis and they suggest that the training is effective in reducing anxiety and also in improving the performance quality.

Keywords : anxiety; music performance; biofeedback; HRV.

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