A choking intervention based on neurophysiological considerations.

Over recent years, an understanding of the neurophysiological processes underlying choking under pressure has accumulated. This knowledge is compatible with the choking model of anxiety induced self-focus. That is, if the athlete increases their investment in the conscious control of a motor skill when performing under pressure, the neuro-efficiency achieved through practice will break down. This process consequently interferes with the smooth flow of skill execution, resulting in increased kinematic variance and performance decrements. Based on this model, an intervention has been derived that eliminates the athlete’s attempts to consciously control the motor skill. EEG studies show that clenching the left fist results in high Alpha activation across the cortex, which inhibits the conscious control processes that interfere with neuro-efficiency. Thus, if experts clench their left fist before the execution of a motor skill under pressure, choking is alleviated. Hence, this presentation will review the evidence-base that demonstrates the neurophysiological determinants of choking in sport, and the efficacy of fist clenching as a theory-matched intervention that reduces the likelihood of choking.      «

Over recent years, an understanding of the neurophysiological processes underlying choking under pressure has accumulated. This knowledge is compatible with the choking model of anxiety induced self-focus. That is, if the athlete increases their investment in the conscious control of a motor skill when performing under pressure, the neuro-efficiency achieved through practice will break down. This process consequently interferes with the smooth flow of skill execution, resulting in increased kine...     »