Psychobiology of stage fright: the effect of public performance on neuroendocrine, cardiovascular and subjective reactions.

Subjective, neuroendocrine and cardiovascular functions were studied in high- and low-anxious musicians performing privately and publicly. Musicians were designated as "high-anxious" if they reported at least one episode of performance-related tremor and as "low-anxious" if they never had experienced tremor while performing in public. All musicians performed privately and publicly while measurements of subjective, neuroendocrine and cardiovascular functions were made. Ratings of effort and distress were made prior to performance. Heart rate was monitored telemetrically before, during and after performance. Urinary epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol were sampled after public and private performance, respectively. Situational factors influenced most measures. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, heart rate and ratings of distress but not effort increased from private to public performance. Heart rate was higher in high- than in low-anxious musicians during public performance but similar during private performance. The increase in neuroendocrine activation from private to public performance was similar in the high- and low-anxious groups. It is concluded that heart rate is a sensitive measure of both situational and individual determinants of performance-related distress.