When well-learned motor skills fail, such as when elderly persons fall or when athletes "choke under pressure," it is assumed that attention is directed toward the execution of the action. Research findings suggest that this controlled execution and subsequent inferior performance depend on a dominant left-hemispheric activation. In a series of 3 experiments, we tested whether increasing right-hemispheric activation by the use of hemisphere-specific priming extenuates motor skill failure. We compared the performances of a sample of experienced athletes in different sports (soccer, tae kwon do, and badminton) in a pressure-free situation with that performed under pressure. As expected, the hemisphere-specific priming extenuated a performance decrease after pressure induction when compared with a control condition. The results suggest that hemisphere-specific priming may prevent motor skill failure. It is argued that this hemispheric priming should be task dependent and can be understood as a functional regulation of the activation in the hemispheres.

Background: Due to advances in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD), the number of adults who are surviving with congenital heart disease (ACHD) is constantly growing. Until recently, the psychological effects of CHD had been widely neglected. Current research provides evidence for an increased risk of emotional distress in ACHD. The concept of illness identity attempts to explain how patients experience and integrate their CHD into their identities. The present study investigated illness identity in relation to clinical parameters and psychological functioning. Psychometric properties of the German version of the Illness Identity Questionnaire (IIQD) were examined. Methods: Self-reported measures on illness identity and psychological functioning (HADS-D) were assessed in a representative sample of 229 ACHD (38 ± 12.5 (18−73) years; 45% female) at the German Heart Center Munich. Descriptive analyses and multiple regression models were conducted. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to validate the IIQD. Results: The IIQD demonstrated good reliability. The originally-postulated four-factor structure could not be replicated. Anatomic disease complexity and functional status significantly influenced illness identity. Illness identity accounted for unique variances in depression and anxiety: Maladaptive illness identity states (i.e., , engulfment and rejection) were associated with higher emotional distress, whereas adaptive illness (i.e., , acceptance and enrichment) identity states were linked to lower emotional distress. Conclusions: Illness Identity emerged as a predictor of emotional distress in ACHD. Findings raise the possibility that interventions designed to target a patient’s illness identity may improve psychological well-being and cardiac outcomes in ACHD.

Dynamically squeezing the left hand (left hand dynamic handgrip) has been shown to be effective in preventing choking under pressure in right-handers in a variety of sports. The current study assessed the effectiveness of the left hand dynamic handgrip in preventing a loss of accuracy of tennis serves in competitive situations. Twenty right-handed highly skilled junior athletes performed eight tennis serves at a target without pressure (pre-test), followed by eight serves under pressure (post-test). Ten of the participants conducted the left hand dynamic handgrip prior to the post-test, while the other ten performed an equivalent handgrip with their right hand. The serving accuracy of the group performing the handgrip with their right hand decreased significantly from pre- to post-test, while the accuracy of the left hand dynamic handgrip group remained stable. The results indicate the left hand dynamic handgrip to be effective in preventing reduced accuracy of the tennis serve in competition situations as a form of choking under pressure. This technique could easily be integrated into tennis players’ serving routines and promote stable match performance in competitions.

Background: Stereotypes and false assumptions about chronic and visible skin diseases can determine the behaviour towards affected individuals and result in stigmatization or discrimination. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the perceived disease-related stigmatization of individuals with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD) or mastocytosis. The study also aims to broaden people-centred knowledge of the effects of stigmatization in different areas of life, namely in everyday life, at work, in sports and in relationships. Methods: Qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted among individuals with either psoriasis, AD or mastocytosis. Participants were recruited via self-help networks and were asked to express their experience of stigmatization in different areas of life. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and evaluated based on Mayring's content analysis. Results: In total, 24 individuals aged 19–79 years and living in Germany were included in the study—eight for each disease. Stigmatization was experienced in all three diseases in all mentioned areas of life as well as in interaction with medical professionals. Self-exclusion, negative self-perception and negative behaviour of others were the most frequent experiences with stigmatization. Conclusion: Stigmatization, both internal and external, is an important factor contributing to the mental burden of people with chronic skin diseases. More research is needed to gain deeper insight into stigmatization and its psychological burden in various contexts to enhance people-centred care in chronic skin diseases.