Uncovering the Science of Choking Under Pressure: Insights from a Monkey Study
When individuals find themselves in high-pressure situations where success could lead to substantial rewards, they may experience a phenomenon known as “choking under pressure.” This can manifest in various scenarios, such as athletes competing in championship matches or actors auditioning for renowned directors. A recent study conducted on monkeys sheds light on why this occurs, offering valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms.
The study, which was published in the journal Neuron on September 12, involved three monkeys performing tasks to receive a reward—in this case, water to drink. The monkeys demonstrated their best performance when the potential reward was of medium to large volume. However, when they were presented with the opportunity to win an unusually large “jackpot,” they exhibited underperformance, or choked under pressure.
The tasks assigned to the monkeys tested their speed and accuracy, requiring them to reach for a target displayed on a screen. They had to wait for a cue before initiating the reaching motion and then maintain that position for a specified duration. The color of the cue corresponded with the size of the potential reward, ranging from small to jackpot.
Prior to the official experiment, the researchers ensured that the monkeys had learned the value of each reward and could differentiate between two rewards accurately about 99% of the time. During the experiment, the scientists monitored the activity of hundreds of brain cells in the monkeys using implanted electrodes. These cells were known to be involved in motor preparation, the process by which the brain readies itself to execute a specific movement, such as reaching for a target.
The results of the study indicated that the monkeys performed poorly when the reward was either too small, leading to careless reaching behavior, or too large, resulting in excessive caution. According to Adam Smoulder, the first study author and a doctoral student at Carnegie Mellon, the monkeys appeared to be overly concerned about missing the target, causing them to be too slow in their movements.
The impaired motor preparation observed in the monkeys in response to the promise of a jackpot was reflected in the brain recordings. This process primarily occurs among neurons in the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex. Previous research has suggested the existence of an “optimal zone” in these brain regions, characterized by activity patterns consistently associated with task success.
The new study revealed that the size of the reward influences whether the brain reaches this optimal zone. While the presence of a reward tends to push the brain toward this optimal state, excessively large rewards can push it beyond this point, as explained by co-senior author Steven Chase, a biomedical engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
These findings have implications for human behavior, as reward processing plays a crucial role in various aspects of human life and psychiatric conditions. Chase highlighted the relevance of these findings to conditions such as addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder, where the reward system may be dysregulated, leading to harmful behaviors.
Moving forward, the researchers aim to explore ways to induce these optimal neural signatures to enhance performance in individuals. Chase expressed interest in understanding how psychological training could be formalized and made more repeatable to help individuals perform at their best.
The study’s findings align with existing theories on how arousal affects performance, shedding light on the specific neural pathways involved. Christopher Mesagno, a senior lecturer at Victoria University in Australia specializing in anxiety in sports performance, noted that the concept of “choking under pressure” in humans may be related to social anxiety, a factor not observed in monkeys. He suggested that future studies include larger groups of human participants and experimental conditions that evoke social anxiety.
In conclusion, the study on monkeys provides valuable insights into the science of choking under pressure, offering a glimpse into the neural mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon. By understanding how rewards influence performance and motor preparation, researchers may be able to develop strategies to help individuals overcome performance anxiety and optimize their abilities in high-pressure situations.