Wasley, D. and Williamon, A. and Taylor, A. (2011) An investigation into the acute effect of exercise on physiological and psychological responses to musical performance. In: International Symposium on Performance Science 2011, 24-27 August 2011, Canada.
Abstract
Musicians experience anxiety and stress as an occupational hazard. Various approaches are available to the individual that may mitigate perceptions of excessive anxiety. Acute exercise (EX) has been shown to reduce the level of psychological and physiological response to laboratory stressors, although its impact on music performance anxiety (MPA) is less clear. Twelve classically trained musicians completed a baseline familiarization session, with 20 minutes of EX and quiet rest (NEX) in a counterbalanced order prior to a performance, videoed as part of a performance competition. Cardiovascular measures (heart rate [HR], heart rate variability [HRV], and blood pressure) were collected at baseline, pre-, during, and post-performance. Anxiety and self-reflective performance ratings were collected pre- and post-performance. EX reduced HR reactivity significantly during and post-performance, but not prior to performance. HRV showed signs of vagus withdrawal during and postperformance in EX. Blood pressure changes and anxiety were not significantly different between conditions, nor were reflective appraisals with the exception of “importance of winning the competition,” which was lower in EX. Acute exercise appears to alter cardiovascular responses to a musical performance, although not how individuals perceive anxiety.
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