<i>From concept to proof:</i> developing a neurofeedback-fNIRS protocol to train self-regulation for music performance anxiety in adolescent musicians.

Abstract

Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) is a prevalent phenomenon among young musicians, affecting both well-being and artistic performance. Despite its early onset and impact, effective interventions supporting the development of self-regulation of MPA in adolescents remain limited, particularly in relation to neurofeedback-based approaches. In response, this study investigates the feasibility of a Neurofeedback-Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NFDK-fNIRS) training protocol designed to support this process within a proof-of-concept research framework. The protocol alternated MPA induction and regulation within audio-guided sessions conducted in school settings to ensure ecological validity and to integrate top-down control with gradual exposure to performance contexts. The conceptual development and operationalization of the protocol resulted in a theoretical-methodological framework combining gradual exposure, guided imagery, and neurophysiological self-regulation training. This protocol was implemented through standardized auditory scripts and systematic procedures to ensure replicability and experimental coherence. The proof-of-concept implementation was conducted with three female adolescent participants (aged 12-13) across four individual sessions designed to progressively develop physiological self-regulation in response to MPA. The procedure demonstrated technical feasibility, hemodynamic signal stability, and participants' gradual adaptation to the training. fNIRS data revealed increased modulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, consistent with top-down self-regulatory learning mechanisms. Researchers' reflective journals emphasized practical aspects such as equipment calibration, session duration, and participant engagement. Altogether, the findings indicate that NFDK-fNIRS represents a technically feasible and ecologically applicable approach for training self-regulation of MPA in adolescents, providing a solid foundation for future studies involving larger samples and controlled validation of the protocol.