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Related Experiment Videos

When high-powered people fail: working memory and "choking under pressure" in math.

Sian L Beilock1, Thomas H Carr

  • 1Department of Psychology, Miami University, Room 202, Benton Hall, Oxford, OH 45056, USA. beilocsl@muohio.edu

Psychological Science
|February 3, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Performance pressure harms high-ability individuals by reducing working memory capacity, particularly in complex math tasks. This "choking under pressure" affects those with greater working memory capacity the most.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Educational Psychology

Background:

  • Performance pressure can lead to decrements in cognitive tasks.
  • Working memory capacity is crucial for executing complex cognitive skills, such as mathematical problem-solving.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between pressure-induced performance decrements (choking under pressure) in mathematical problem solving and individual differences in working memory capacity.
  • To determine if working memory capacity moderates the effect of pressure on mathematical performance.

Main Methods:

  • Participants completed mathematical problem-solving tasks under varying pressure conditions.
  • Individual differences in working memory capacity were assessed.
  • Performance on math problems with differing working memory demands was analyzed.

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Main Results:

  • Individuals with high working memory capacity showed significant performance decrements under pressure.
  • These decrements were most pronounced on math problems with the highest working memory demands.
  • Individuals with lower working memory capacity did not exhibit similar performance declines under pressure.

Conclusions:

  • Performance pressure can negatively impact high-ability individuals by consuming essential working memory resources.
  • Working memory capacity is a key factor in understanding vulnerability to choking under pressure in academic skills.
  • Interventions aimed at mitigating choking under pressure may need to consider individual working memory capacities.