When rewards backfire: Collapsing under pressure in motor cortex

People often underperform their abilities in high-value situations, a mysterious phenomenon known as “choking under pressure.” In this issue of Neuron, Smoulder et al.1 report that target-selective signals in the motor cortex of non-human primates collapse in the face of high-value opportunities. People often underperform their abilities in high-value situations, a mysterious phenomenon known as “choking under pressure.” In this issue of Neuron, Smoulder et al. report that target-selective signals in the motor cortex of non-human primates collapse in the face of high-value opportunities.