Under Pressure
By: Zoe Gan
Athletes with any kind of performance anxiety (so, all
athletes!) may find a recent study pretty interesting: Athletes who clench
their left fist before performing are less likely to choke under pressure.
Here's how it works: Because your left fist is controlled by
your right brain, clenching it activates the right brain and results in a
decreased activation of your left brain. Activation of certain areas in the
left brain is associated with psyching ourselves out under pressure. This study
was done with soccer players, judo players, and badminton players.
I'm thinking those sports are pretty different from, say,
swimming, but it seems that the trick applies to any task that combines
"precision, pressure, and highly automated tasks." The article cites
surgeons and musicians as people who could potentially benefit from this
finding.
I know the left brain is typically associated with logical
thinking, while the right brain is associated more with artistry and
creativity. It makes sense, since thinking too much about doing something tends
to make you mess up.
If that's the case, then I might just try this before my
next exam. I get tests back all the time where I'm pretty sure I overthought
something or just choked. Does regurgitating information count as an
"automated task"? Sure. Pressure? That's what you make it. And I wonder
if the brain areas controlling "precision" are the same that involve
how accurately you answer test questions... well, I guess we know precision and
accuracy aren't the same, but I'd just like to think that this would help me!
Give it a try sometime.
Sources referenced:
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