Preventing motor skill failure through hemisphere-specific priming: Cases from choking under pressure.

Abstract

When well-learned motor skills fail, such as when elderly persons fall or when athletes "choke under pressure," it is assumed that attention is directed toward the execution of the action. Research findings suggest that this controlled execution and subsequent inferior performance depend on a dominant left-hemispheric activation. In a series of 3 experiments, we tested whether increasing right-hemispheric activation by the use of hemisphere-specific priming extenuates motor skill failure. We compared the performances of a sample of experienced athletes in different sports (soccer, tae kwon do, and badminton) in a pressure-free situation with that performed under pressure. As expected, the hemisphere-specific priming extenuated a performance decrease after pressure induction when compared with a control condition. The results suggest that hemisphere-specific priming may prevent motor skill failure. It is argued that this hemispheric priming should be task dependent and can be understood as a functional regulation of the activation in the hemispheres.

Choking interventions in sports: A systematic review

“…Furthermore, findings indicate that left-hand contractions (also called 'hemispherespecific priming'; Beckmann, Gröpel, & Ehrlenspiel, 2013) may be an effective choking intervention. Left-hand contractions have been proposed to prime the visuospatial processes of the right hemisphere necessary for motor performance and to suppress the analytical processes of the left hemisphere linked to the step-by-step control of skill execution (Beckmann et al, 2013;Cross-Villasana, Gröpel, Doppelmayr, & Beckmann, 2015).…”

“…Left-hand contractions have been proposed to prime the visuospatial processes of the right hemisphere necessary for motor performance and to suppress the analytical processes of the left hemisphere linked to the step-by-step control of skill execution (Beckmann et al, 2013;Cross-Villasana, Gröpel, Doppelmayr, & Beckmann, 2015). In all five studies on left-hand contractions, researchers (e.g.…”

Managing performance anxiety and improving mental skills in conservatoire students through performance psychology training: a pilot study

“…Pre-performance routines which combine psychological and behavioral components decrease the likelihood of choking, compared to singular methods of deep breathing, cue word, temporal duration or no routine control (Mesagno and Mullane-Grant 2010). Preperformance routines which increase right-hemisphere activation through hemisphericspecific priming attenuates motor skill failure under pressure conditions in gymnasts (Beckmann et al 2013). Stronger left-hemispheric inhibition is associated with better performance in golf-putting and other automatic behaviors such as music performance.…”

“…In high stress states, individuals have greater difficulty learning, remembering and executing skilled behavior (Kim and Diamond 2002). 'Choking under pressure' describes performance decrements under pressure conditions despite the individual striving to perform well (Beckmann et al 2013). The performance-stress model of choking in Figure 1, drawing from the work of Nideffer and colleagues (Nideffer and Sagal 2001;Williams et al 2010) demonstrates how these factors can work together to produce a sub-optimal music performance.…”

Performance Optimization in Sport: A Psychophysiological Approach

“…Unfortunately, optimal psychophysiological and psychosocial states do not occur frequently; competitive pressure can disrupt task execution and dysfunctional unpleasant states can appear. It is therefore necessary to implement self-regulation strategies to help performers cope with pressure and with dysfunctional feelings and/or emotions during these situations 2 . We strongly advocate the development and adoption of idiosyncratic approaches for performance enhancement.…”