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Choking on the Money: Reward-Based Performance Decrements Are Associated With Midbrain Activity.
- Source :
-
Psychological Science (0956-7976) . Aug2009, Vol. 20 Issue 8, p955-962. 8p. 3 Graphs. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- A pernicious paradox in human motivation is the occasional reduced performance associated with tasks and situations that involve larger-than-average rewards. Three broad explanations that might account for such performance decrements are attentional competition (distraction theories), inhibition by conscious processes (explicit-monitoring theories), and excessive drive and arousal (overmotivation theories). Here, we report incentive-dependent performance decrements in humans in a reward-pursuit task; subjects were less successful in capturing a more valuable reward in a computerized maze. Concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed that increased activity in ventral midbrain, a brain area associated with incentive motivation and basic reward responding, correlated with both reduced number of captures and increased number of near-misses associated with imminent high rewards. These data cast light on the neurobiological basis of choking under pressure and are consistent with overmotivation accounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09567976
- Volume :
- 20
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Psychological Science (0956-7976)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 43546924
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02399.x