Performance pressure decreases behavior inhibition and switching, but not behavior execution: The moderating role of attentional control

Abstract

Performance pressure frequently results in suboptimal performance (i.e., choking) across various cognitive and perceptual-motor behaviors. Behavior execution, inhibition, and switching are three core components of complex cognition and behavior. However, prior research has predominantly focused on overall performance under pressure, with little investigation into the changes in these components under pressure. The present study, based on two experiments, aims to explore whether and how performance pressure influences behavior execution, inhibition, and switching as well as the moderating role of attentional control. Experiment 1 suggested that high-pressure situations decrease performance in behavior inhibition and switching but not in behavior execution. Signal detection analyses revealed that high-pressure situations decrease the ability to discriminate between different behaviors, which explains choking during inhibition and switching. Experiment 2 suggested that under high-pressure situations, only individuals with low (not high) attentional control exhibit poor performance in behavior inhibition and switching and reduce their discrimination ability, indicating that attentional control modulates the effects of performance pressure on behavior inhibition and switching. Altogether, our study provides novel insight into why the choking phenomenon occurs, who is most susceptible to failure under pressure, and how future intervention programs can be designed to mitigate choking under pressure.