Three scientific contributions to advancing research on music performance anxiety
Researchers from the Institute of Ethnomusicology – Centre for Studies in Music and Dance (INET-md) have contributed to three scientific articles included in Music Performance Anxiety, Volume II, a thematic research collection published in the international journal Frontiers in Psychology, whose editorial was published on 12 October 2026.
The collection brings together scientific contributions exploring music performance anxiety, its implications for musicians’ well-being, and the development of assessment tools and self-regulation strategies.
Two of the articles, published in 2026, have INET-md doctoral researcher Nery Borges as their lead author and involve collaboration with researchers from INET-md and other national and international institutions.
The first article, Mapping the relationship between flow experience and music performance anxiety: a scoping review, published on 25 February 2026, was authored by Nery Borges, Helena Marinho, Marcos Araújo, Anabela Pereira, and Sofia Serra. The study reviews 18 scientific investigations examining the relationship between music performance anxiety and flow experience, a psychological state characterised by deep concentration and engagement in musical activity. The findings indicate a predominantly inverse relationship between these phenomena, although moderate levels of anxiety may coexist with flow experiences, particularly when performance situations are perceived as challenges rather than threats.
The second article, From concept to proof: developing a neurofeedback-fNIRS protocol to train self-regulation for music performance anxiety in adolescent musicians, published on 29 April 2026, was co-authored by Nery Borges, Pedro Rodrigues Ribeiro, Sofia Serra, Lurdes Veríssimo, Pedro Dias, Nádia Moura, Inês Silva, Isaac Raimundo, and Patrícia Oliveira-Silva. The study presents the development and preliminary implementation of an experimental neurofeedback protocol using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to support music performance anxiety self-regulation in adolescents. Tested with three young musicians, the protocol demonstrated technical and methodological feasibility, providing a foundation for future research involving larger samples.
The collection also includes Music performance anxiety: development and validation of the Portuguese music performance anxiety scale, originally published in July 2024. Authored by Samuel Barros, a former INET-md doctoral student, in collaboration with Alex França, Helena Marinho, and Anabela Pereira, the study presents the development and validation of the Portuguese Music Performance Anxiety Scale (PoMPAS), an instrument specifically designed for higher music education in Portugal. Validated with a sample of 414 students, the scale assesses behavioural, cognitive, and physiological dimensions of music performance anxiety.
Together, these three publications highlight the contribution of INET-md researchers to advancing scientific knowledge on music performance anxiety, combining perspectives from music psychology, music education, and neuroscience, with implications for musicians’ training, well-being, and artistic development.
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