Performance under
Pressure
What conditions lead to peak performance?
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Most animals like change
in their environments.
Seek out new things.
Innate curiosity.
Need for stimulus change.
Seek optimal level of
arousal.
Donald Hebb (1904-1895)
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Canadian psychologist
PhD at age 32.
Worked with Lashley and
Penfield.
Neural basis for learning.
Organization of Behavior
First text in biopsychology
(1949)
Brain’s performance under pressure
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Relationship between brain arousal and
behavioral performance.
Novelty sought under low levels of arousal.
High levels of arousal (such as panic states)
causes a breakdown in performance.
Not many people perform well in crisis.
Two brain systems at work.
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Reticular formation:
responsible for
keeping the brain
alert.
Autonomic NS:
mobilizing the body to
meet needs of the
situation, more alert
or more calm.
Reticular Formation
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Sensory input
stimulates RF.
Cortex aroused to
process info.
Also downward tract
to improve your
speed and
coordination.
Peak performance
Autonomic Nervous System
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Sympathetic arousal for states
of emergency.
Heart rate, breathing, muscle
tone, perspiration (cool body).
Parasympathetic arousal for
calm states.
Digestion, rest.
Arousal and Performance
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Hebb portrayed this relationship as graph.
high
performance
low
arousal
high
Hebb’s inverted “U” function
high
panic
low
high
Study people in extreme conditions.
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Korean war POW’s
Brainwashing.
Solitary confinement.
“Manchurian Candidate”.
Concerns about POW’s
in future wars.
Prevent brainwashing.
Sensory deprivation.
Sensory Deprivation
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Woodburn Heron (1957).
Pathology of Boredom.
Subject $20 a day to lay in
bed.
Deprived of sensory input
Vision, hearing, touch.
Food and water on
demand.
Bathroom breaks.
Heron’s subjects
Most happy to be in study.
 Get a good rest, nothing to do.
 Soon unable to concentrate.
 Mind began to wander.
 Started to hallucinate.
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Sensory Deprivation Hallucinations
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A marching procession of
squirrels carrying sacks.
Prehistoric animals walking in
the jungle.
Eyeglasses dancing down the
street.
Subjects began to look
forward to images to relieve
boredom.
Concerns from space program
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USA just beginning flights of solo
astronauts.
How would they perform in
isolation for long periods of time?
Short solo flights.
Start the Gemini program with
two astronauts per flight.
Prevent sensory deprivation.
Applications to work
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Factory work with too little
stimulation may lead to
mistakes.
Repetitive mindless tasks.
Drill press and piece work.
On-the-job accidents.
Other extreme: Sensory Overload
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In Civil War, only 25% of
soldiers remembered to
fire muskets during
combat.
When cleaning up the
battlefield, some muskets
with 5 charges in barrel.
Kept loading musket but
didn’t fire it.
Hebb’s inverted “U” function
high
panic
low
high
World Trade Center 9/11
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Stories of people who
helped others to safety.
Most people don’t think
clearly in crisis situation.
Police and fire departments
trained to handle
emergencies.
Stage simulations to get
practice.
Bystander intervention
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Most people who stop to
offer assistance are trained
as first responders.
Fire, police, EMT.
Untrained people unwilling
to act because they don’t
know what to do.
Red Cross trainings.
Arousal and Attention
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First responders also
trained to focus on
main problem.
Less likely to get
distracted by less
important things.
Psychologists also
study the relationship
between arousal and
attention.
Easterbrook’s Theory
B
r
o
a
d
Optimum
narrow
attention
high
low
arousal
A ride in the country
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At low levels of arousal,
attention is broad.
Take in the whole countryside.
Two German shepherds take
off after you.
Level of arousal goes too
high.
Focus only on dogs.
Don’t notice truck backing out
into road in front of you.
Optimal level
Somewhere between those the two
extremes in the optimal level.
 Low level of arousal, too unfocused.
 High level, tunnel vision.
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Attention Deficit Disorder
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ADD
Sometimes include
hyperactivity, then ADHD.
Former title was hyperactive.
Confusing because ADD
treated with mild amphetamines
like Ritalin.
How could stimulant calm down
a child?
Main symptom is attention
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Easterbrook: low attention  poor focus.
Poor focus leads to distractibility.
Do other things (hyperactive).
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Ex: young children watching romantic comedy.
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Increase attention  improve focus.
Not distracted. Sit in their seats.
Ex: same kids at Disney film.
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Improving attention
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Ritalin raises arousal
to moderate levels.
Improve focus.
Reduce distractions.
Reduce other
activities while
concentrating on
school work.
Debate over Ritalin
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Accurate diagnosis.
Other problems in family.
Not seeking other solutions.
Pill-fixable problem.
Long term effects.
May need drug as adult.
Need long-term studies.