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"Performance Adrenaline": The Effects of Endorphins, Serotonin, Dopamine, and Adrenaline on the Performing Singer

abstract: The thrill of a live performance can enhance endorphin, serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline levels in the body. This mixture of heightened chemical levels is a result of "performance adrenaline." This phenomenon can positively and/or negatively affect a performing singer. A singer's body is her instrument, and therefore, any bodily change can alter the singing voice. The uptake of these chemicals can especially influence a central aspect of singing: breath. "Performance adrenaline" can induce shallow or clavicular breathing, alter phonation, and affect vibrato. To optimize the positive effects and counteract the negative, diaphragmatic breathing, yoga, and beta-blockers are explored as viable management tools. When managed properly, the boost offered by "performance adrenaline" can aid the singer in performing and singing. After a review of medical and psychological studies that reveal the physiological and emotional effects of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline, this paper will explore the biological changes specific to vocalists and methods to optimize these effects in performance. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Music 2015

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:asu.edu/item:29628
Date January 2015
ContributorsPaige, Belinda Roseann (Author), FitzPatrick, Carole (Advisor), Dreyfoos, Dale (Committee member), Norton, Kay (Committee member), Arizona State University (Publisher)
Source SetsArizona State University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeDoctoral Dissertation
Format74 pages
Rightshttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/, All Rights Reserved

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