Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Working Memory

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...

Information Processing Approach

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...

Cattell's Theory of Intelligence

Cattell's Theory of Intelligence

Raymond Cattell, along with John Horn, made significant contributions to our understanding of intelligence by distinguishing between two types: fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence.
Fluid intelligence involves the capacity to solve new problems and adapt to unfamiliar situations. It's the type of intelligence individuals use when they encounter a novel problem or puzzle that requires innovative thinking. For instance, figuring out how to operate a new gadget relies heavily on fluid...

Forgetting

Forgetting

Forgetting is an intrinsic aspect of human memory, characterized by the gradual loss or inaccessibility of information over time. Hermann Ebbinghaus, a pioneering psychologist, extensively studied this phenomenon and formulated the forgetting curve. This curve illustrates that memory loss occurs rapidly immediately after learning and then decelerates over time. Several mechanisms contribute to forgetting, including encoding failure, storage decay, retrieval failure, and interference.
Encoding...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Leverage Points for Wellbeing and Achievement in Vocational Education: A Network Analysis of Psychological Factors Across Gender and Majors.

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Self-Perceptions of Aging in Older Adults: A Network Analysis of Clinical and Non-Clinical Samples.

Brain sciences·2026

Same author

Probabilistic inference of social presence across brain scales reveals enhanced synaptic efficacy.

Communications biology·2025

Same author

Uncovering the relationship between working memory and performance in the Jigsaw classroom.

PloS one·2025

Same author

Age-based stereotype threat effects: From the laboratory to the clinical setting.

Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior·2025

Same author

Affiliation in times of pandemics: Determinants and consequences.

PloS one·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance

Published on: July 19, 2017

Choking under pressure and working memory capacity: when performance pressure reduces fluid intelligence.

David Gimmig¹, Pascal Huguet, Jean-Paul Caverni

¹CNRS and University of Aix-Marseille 1, Marseille, France.

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review

|May 9, 2007

Summary

High working memory capacity (WMC) individuals choke under pressure due to anxiety, impacting performance assessments. This challenges using high-stakes tests to measure WMC potential accurately.

More Related Videos

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

Published on: January 24, 2020

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Published on: February 1, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance

Published on: July 19, 2017

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

Published on: January 24, 2020

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Published on: February 1, 2012

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Psychological Assessment

Background:

High working memory capacity (WMC) is crucial for complex cognitive tasks.
Previous research suggested performance pressure affects individuals differently based on WMC.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the phenomenon of "choking under pressure" in relation to working memory capacity.
To determine if performance pressure uniquely impacts high-WMC individuals.
To examine if choking extends beyond acquired skills to fluid intelligence (Gf).

Main Methods:

Experimental design examining performance under high-pressure versus low-pressure conditions.
Inclusion of tasks measuring both acquired knowledge and fluid reasoning abilities.
Assessment of working memory capacity and anxiety levels.

Main Results:

Individuals with high WMC were found to "choke under pressure" significantly.
This choking effect was linked to anxiety and the perception of high-stakes situations.
The "choking" phenomenon was observed in fluid reasoning (Gf) tasks, not just those requiring learned skills.

Conclusions:

Performance pressure disproportionately affects high-WMC individuals, potentially due to anxiety.
High-stakes assessments may not accurately reflect true intellectual capacity for high-WMC individuals.
Findings have significant implications for educational, clinical, and workplace evaluations.