“According to University of Chicago psychologist Sian Beilock, choking is rooted in science, not the supernatural—as are techniques to avoid it. In her lab, Beilock ratchets up the pressure on subjects performing all sorts of cognitive and athletic tasks while sampling their stress hormones and scanning their brains. She has found that worry can turn our strengths—such as superior reasoning skills or a supportive crowd—against us. In her new book, ‘Choke’, Beilock argues that doing well under pressure begins with understanding the demands that different types of performance make on the brain.”