The Brain Under Pressure: How Reward and Fatigue Shape Performance

In this episode, host Camila Domonoske speaks with Vikram Chib, a biomedical engineer and neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins, about how reward and fatigue shape performance. Chib explains that fatigue arises when internal state signals meet motivation, and that rewards can counteract the costs of effort. He discusses brain regions involved in reward processing and motor control, and shares lab findings showing that high incentives can cause people to choke under pressure as they fear losses. The conversation also covers social attention, reframing strategies, and practical takeaways for managing pressure in sports, work presentations, and everyday challenges.

Overview and framing

Camila Domonoske introduces the theme of performance under pressure and frames Vikram Chib's research on reward, fatigue, and the brain. The episode contrasts cognitive fatigue with physical fatigue and highlights the idea that motivation, both monetary and social, interacts with internal state signals to shape effort and performance.

"every action that you're doing is like a trade-off between the effort costs and the reward you're getting out" - Vikram Chib

Brain mechanisms of fatigue and reward

Chib explains that fatigue arises when brain circuits monitoring internal states interact with motivational circuits. Reward signals in regions like the ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex can boost motivation, but high rewards can also trigger loss-averse worry that undermines performance. The discussion notes how reward processing and motor planning interact.

"they would see that incentive, they'd be like, oh wow, I have $100 to win" - Vikram Chib

Choking under pressure and cognitive reframing

The guest discusses experiments where bigger incentives lead to choking on skilled tasks, and how reframing thoughts about a single trial into a portfolio of many trials reduces fear of loss and brain activity related to worry.

"cognitive reframing can sort of get you to overcome that choking behavior" - Vikram Chib

Social incentives and practical lessons

Beyond money, social attention and audience feedback act as incentives that can boost or hinder performance. The episode ends with advice on applying these ideas to everyday performance, such as public speaking and presentations, by keeping a big-picture perspective.

"Social approval is an incentive" - Vikram Chib