Sports history is full of generational choke-jobs: the Falcons against the Patriots during the Super Bowl; the Clippers against the Nuggets during the 2020 NBA playoffs; James Harden’s entire career. Choking isn't unique to the sports world either; test-takers, performing artists, quiz bowl players - it seems like expertise does not prevent people from faltering under high pressure. In today’s episode, Akshata and Christian explore different theories of why choking occurs and what kind of attentional failures in the brain can lead to choking. By analyzing studies that test performance under high pressure, they start to unpack how expertise and practice affect memory and performance, and moreover, what people can do to potentially avoid choking.
Sources and show notes can be found at: https://workbyakshata.wordpress.com/?p=671
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