Dr. Bigliassi has more than a decade of experience in psychophysiology and neuroscience. He earned his Ph.D. from Brunel University London in the UK, where he studied the brain mechanisms behind dissociative techniques in exercise. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of São Paulo in Brazil, he became an assistant professor at Florida International University in the USA and has also served as a visiting professor at the University of Pavia in Italy. Dr. Bigliassi employs various methodologies in his research, including EEG, fNIRS, EDA, and HRV. He has published over 70 articles in prestigious journals and is recognized for his guest lectures at both national and international conferences. He currently directs the graduate program in kinesiology, serves as the Chief Scientist for Neurosmart, and advises organizations such as the Antifragile Academy. Dr. Bigliassi is also an Associate Editor for the prestigious journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise. Supported by grants from international organizations, private companies, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), he remains a leader in scientific innovation.
Research Areas
- Psychophysiology of Stress
- Exercise Neuroscience
- Psychophysiological Profiles
Education
Dr. Bigliassi received his Ph.D. from Brunel University London, UK.
Selected Publications
(A full list of publications, excluding abstracts published in conference booklets, can be found here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marcelo_Bigliassi )
Bigliassi, M.; Cabral, D. F.; Evans, A. Improving brain health via the central executive network. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, 2025.
Cabral, D. A. R.; Wang, D.; Malagodi, B.; Nusair, K.; Nusair, G.; Bigliassi, M.; Elbash, Z.; Grandjean da Costa, K.; Fontes, E.; Tavares, V. D. O. Effects of acute exercise on prefrontal cortex oxygenation in substance use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of fNIRS studies. MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, 2025.
Antonio, D. S.; Bigliassi, M. Pre-stress exposure and psychophysiological responses during cycling. STRESS & HEALTH, 2025.
Joseph, A.; Waller, M.; Watson, T.; Garza, T.; Bigliassi, M. Psychophysiological profiling of elite cricket athletes. PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT & HEALTH, 2025.
Cabral, D. F.; Bigliassi, M.; Morris, T.; Gomes-Osman, J.; Fried, P. Integrating neural substrates, diabetes self-management, and behavior change for tailored lifestyle interventions in type-2 diabetes: A neurobehavioral perspective. NEUROSCIENCE & BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS, 2025.
Wang, Y.-B.; Bigliassi, M.; Cheval, B.; Yu, Q.; Maltagliati, S.; Zhang, Z.; Herold, F.; Chen, Y.; Dupuy, O.; Gao, Y.; Hou, M.; Fessler, L.; Kuang, J.; Gerber, M.; Heath, M.; Pindus, D. M.; Mao, Z.-X.; Terry, P. C.; Zou, L. Effects of self-selected audiovisual stimuli on affective responses and cortical oxygenation in the prefrontal cortex during acute endurance exercise: An fNIRS study. MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, 2025.
Bigliassi, M.; Antonio, D, S.; Keloch, C.; Krause, M. Examining the relationship between subjective exercise tolerance and psychophysiological reactivity during physical stress. PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 2024.
Cabral, D. F.; Fried, P.J.; Bigliassi, M.; Cahalin, L. P.; Gomes-Osman, J. Determinants of exercise adherence in sedentary middle-aged and older adults. PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 2024.
Bigliassi, M.; Cabral, D. F.; Kotler, S.; Mannino, M.; Mavrantza, A. M.; Oparina, E.; Gomes-Osman, J. Electroencephalography spectral coherence analysis during cycle ergometry in low- and high-tolerant individuals. PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 2024.
Souffront. S. G..; Mavrantza. A. M.; Bigliassi, M. Shooting free throws under pressure: A social-media self-talk intervention. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL SPORT PSYCHOLOGY, 2024.
Kostrna, J. R.; Bigliassi, M. Effects of noise-canceling headphones on music experience during aerobic exercise. JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES, 2024
Mavrantza. A. M.; Bigliassi, M.; Calogiuri, G. Psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the effects of outdoor green and virtual green exercise during self-paced walking. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 2023.
Bigliassi, M.; Filho, E. Functional significance of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during exhaustive exercise. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY, 2022.
Cabral, D. F.; Bigliassi, M.; Cattaneo, G.; Rundek, T.; Pascual-Leone, A.; Cahalin, L. P.; Gomes-Osman, J. Exploring the interplay between mechanisms of neuroplasticity and cardiovascular health in aging adults: A multiple linear regression analysis study. AUTONOMIC NEUROSCIENCE: BASIC & CLINICAL, 2022.
da Silva, W. Q. A.; Cabral, D. A. R.; Bigliassi, M.; Hussey, E.; Ward, N.; Bortolotti, H.; Fontes, E. B. The role of inhibitory control in the relationship between prefrontal cortex hemodynamics and endurance performance in overweight and obese adults. PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR, 2022.
Russo, G.; Bigliassi, M.; Ceciliani, A.; Tessari, A. Exploring the interplay between sport modality and cognitive function in open- and closed-skill athletes. PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT AND EXERCISE, 2022.
Bigliassi, M.; Ocubaro, A. M.; Lima-Silva, A. E.; Buzzachera, C. F.; Bertuzzi, R. Psychological and psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the effects of meditation during moderate-intensity exercise. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY, 2022.
Bigliassi, M. Neural basis of attentional focus during endurance exercise. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY, 2021.
Bigliassi, M.; Wright, M. J.; Karageorghis, C. I.; Nowicky, A. V. Measuring electrical activity in the brain during exercise: A review of methods, challenges, and opportunities. SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW, 2020.
Bigliassi, M.; Galano, B. M.; Lima-Silva, A. E.; Bertuzzi, R. Effects of mindfulness on psychological and psychophysiological responses during self‐paced walking. PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 2020.
Karageorghis, C. I.; Lyne, L. P.; Bigliassi, M.; Vuust, P. Effects of auditory rhythm on movement accuracy in dance performance. HUMAN MOVEMENT SCIENCE, 2019.
Bigliassi, M; Greca, J. P. A.; Barreto-Silva, V.; Chierotti, Priscila; Oliveira, A. R.; Altimari, L. R. Effects of audiovisual stimuli on psychological and psychophysiological responses during exercise in adults with obesity. JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES, 2019.
Bigliassi, M.; Karageorghis, C. I.; Hoy, G.; Layne, G. The Way You Make Me Feel: Psychological and cerebral responses to music during real-life physical activity. PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT AND EXERCISE, 2019.
Karageorghis, C. I.; Bigliassi, M; Tayara, K.; Priest, D-L.; Bird, J. M. A. grounded theory of music use in the psychological preparation of academy soccer players. SPORT, EXERCISE, AND PERFORMANCE PSYCHOLOGY v.7, 2018.
Bigliassi, M.; Karageorghis, C. I.; Bishop, D. T.; Nowicky, A. V.; Wright, M. Cerebral effects of music during isometric exercise: An fMRI study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 2018.
Bigliassi, M.; Karageorghis, C. I.; Nowicky, A. V.; Wright, M.; Orgs, G. Effects of auditory distraction on voluntary movements: exploring the underlying mechanisms associated with parallel processing. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 2018.
Karageorghis, C. I.; Cheek, P.; Simpson, S. D.; Bigliassi, M. Interactive Effects of Music Tempi and Intensities on Grip Strength and Subjective Affect. SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS, 2018.
Karageorghis, C. I.; Bruce, A. C.; Pottraz, S. T.; Stevens, R. C.; Bigliassi, M.; Hamer, M. Psychological and Psychophysiological Effects of Recuperative Music Postexercise. MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE, 2018.
Barreto-Silva, V.; Bigliassi, M.; Chierotti, P.; Altimari, L. R. Psychophysiological effects of audiovisual stimuli during cycle exercise. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SPORT SCIENCE, 2018.
Bigliassi, M.; Karageorghis, C. I.; Wright, M.; Orgs, G.; Nowicky, A. V. Effects of auditory stimuli on electrical activity in the brain during cycle ergometry. PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR, 2017.
Bigliassi, M.; Silva, V. B.; Karageorghis, C. I.; Bird, J.; Santos, P. C.; Altimari, L. R. Brain mechanisms that underlie the effects of motivational audiovisual stimuli on psychophysiological responses during exercise. PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR, 2016.
Bigliassi, M.; Karageorghis, C. I.; Nowicky, A. V.; Orgs, G.; Wright, M. Cerebral mechanisms underlying the effects of music during a fatiguing isometric ankle-dorsiflexion task. PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 2016.
Selected Book Chapters
Antonio, D. S.; Bigliassi, M. Data Collection and Analysis of Psychophysiological Metrics During Movement Execution In: SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY. 1st ed.: Springer Nature, 2025.
Joseph, A; Bigliassi, M. Emotions in Motion: Examining the Effects of Psychophysiological States on Exercise Behavior and Athletic Performance In: SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY. 1st ed.: Springer Nature, 2025.
Kamil, C.; Bigliassi, M. A Historical Overview and Future Directions in Sport and Exercise Psychophysiology In: SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY. 1st ed.: Springer Nature, 2025.
Bigliassi, M. Psychological and cardiovascular effects of meditation and yoga In: BRAIN AND HEART DYNAMICS. 1st ed.: Springer Nature, 2020.
Karageorghis, C. I.; Bigliassi, M.; Guérin, S. M.R.; Delevoye-Turrell, Y. Brain mechanisms that underlie music interventions in the exercise domain In: PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH. 1st ed.: Elsevier, 2018, v.240, p. 109-125.
Karageorghis, C. I.; Ekkekakis, P.; Bird, J.; Bigliassi, M. Music in the Exercise and Sport Domain: Conceptual Approaches and Underlying Mechanisms In: THE ROUTLEDGE COMPANION TO EMBODIED MUSIC INTERACTION.1st ed.: Routledge, 2017.
Books
Bigliassi, M.; Filho. E. SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY. 1st ed.: Springer, 2025.