Why We Choke: Neuroscience Behind Performance Under Pressure
Why We Choke: Neuroscience Behind Performance Under Pressure
How Brain Signals Impact Performance in High-Stakes Situations
High-pressure situations often lead to underperformance, a phenomenon known as “choking.” New research1 conducted on monkeys may reveal the underlying neural mechanisms involved, providing valuable insights for both human performance and conditions like anxiety and addiction. This study delves into how the brain processes rewards and how their size impacts performance, offering fresh perspectives on motor control, decision-making, and the influence of stress on brain activity.
Understanding Choking Under Pressure
“Choking under pressure” occurs when the stakes are high and performance fails to meet expectations, as seen in sports or public performances. The recent study, conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, examined how rewards influenced task performance in monkeys, revealing that the pressure from large potential rewards can disrupt brain activity in areas responsible for motor preparation.
The Study Design
The experiment involved three monkeys performing a series of tasks for rewards, with varying amounts of water as the prize. Monkeys performed best when medium to large rewards were offered, but when a “jackpot” was at stake, they underperformed, showing slower and less precise actions. This response mimicked the human experience of “choking” when too much is at stake.
The scientists recorded activity in hundreds of neurons in the monkeys’ primary and premotor cortex, regions known for controlling movement. It was observed that excessive focus on the large reward disrupted these signals, leading to poor task performance. As lead author Adam Smoulder explained, the monkeys became,
“too slow, as if they were worried about missing the target,”
…resulting in delayed execution of movements.
Neural Pathways and Optimal Zones
The findings suggest that the brain operates within an “optimal zone” when it comes to processing rewards. The optimal zone is a state where brain activity aligns perfectly with successful task completion. When the reward is too small, motivation decreases; when it’s too large, performance suffers as the brain over-engages, leading to mistakes. Co-senior author Steven Chase noted,
“The reward size determines whether the brain can maintain the balance required for motor success.”
The study emphasizes how high-value rewards can push brain activity beyond this optimal threshold, impairing motor preparation.
Broader Implications
The study’s insights have broad implications for understanding human behavior and mental health conditions. Reward processing plays a central role in many psychiatric conditions, including addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Chase noted,
“Addiction involves the reward system misfiring, reinforcing harmful behavior.”
Similarly, the pressure-induced behavior observed in the study could be linked to anxiety disorders, where high stakes disrupt normal neural function, leading to obsessive or maladaptive behavior patterns.
Applications and Future Research
Moving forward, the researchers hope to apply their findings to human performance. By identifying the neural signatures of optimal motor preparation, there is potential to develop training methods that help individuals maintain peak performance under pressure. Chase explained,
“The goal is to make psychological training more systematic and replicable, to help people consistently reach their best performance.”
Additionally, experts like Christopher Mesagno, who studies sports performance anxiety, believe these findings can be extended to human subjects. While the study focused on monkeys, its relevance to human behavior is clear, particularly when considering the social anxiety component of choking under pressure. Future research could explore how this phenomenon affects humans in high-stakes social environments.
Conclusion
The discovery of how rewards affect motor preparation in the brain highlights a significant connection between cognitive pressure and physical performance. The findings not only shed light on why individuals choke under pressure but also open doors to potential therapies and training techniques that could enhance human performance in various fields, from athletics to mental health. Understanding the neural basis of performance under stress could revolutionize how we approach tasks that demand precision, focus, and control.
This research was published in Neuron, and it holds promise for better understanding both everyday performance challenges and broader psychological conditions.
Smoulder, A. L., Marino, P. J., Oby, E. R., Snyder, S. E., Miyata, H., Pavlovsky, N. P., Bishop, W. E., Yu, B. M., Chase, S. M., & Batista, A. P. (2024). A neural basis of choking under pressure. Neuron. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2024.08.012