The Neuroscience of Performing Under Pressure | Ep. 50 Dr. Kiersten Janjigian

What actually happens in your brain when the stakes are highest?Most athletes train the body. Fewer train the mind. Almost none train the brain — and there's a difference.Dr. Kiersten Janjigian is a neuroscientist and mental performance consultant with a Ph.D. in Cognitive Motor Neuroscience and dual board certifications in biofeedback and neurofeedback. Her research focuses on the cortical dynamics underlying applied sport psychology and the state of the brain under stress — using EEG as her primary neuroimaging tool. She works at the intersection of brain, behavior, and physiology to help athletes, leaders, and high performers execute when it matters most.In this episode, Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe sits down with Dr. Janjigian to talk about what the science actually reveals — what's happening neurologically when athletes choke, freeze, or fall apart under pressure — and what evidence-based mental performance looks like when it's done right.This isn't motivation. This is science.In this episode: — The biggest lie performance culture sells about pressure and stress — What EEG research shows us about the brain in high-stakes moments — Why most mental performance training misses the mark — How to work with your neurophysiology instead of against it — What separates athletes who execute under pressure from those who don't — Practical tools for improving decision-making and emotional regulationThis one is for every athlete who's ever performed below their ability when it mattered most — and every coach, parent, and leader who wants to understand why.Connect with Dr. Janjigian: Website:  https://www.drkierst.com/The Standard Podcast™ — Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.Support the showCONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: blueprintbluechip.com 📸 Instagram: @blueprintbluechip 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Sarles 📧 Email: [email protected] RESOURCE: Join the 5-Day Reset™ — designed for athletes ready to build identity, discipline, and purpose beyond the game. 👉 blueprintbluechip.com/blueprintfoundationschallengeSUPPORT THE SHOW:Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyShare this episode with an athlete, parent, coach, or leaderFollow us on social media and join the conversationBOOK ERIN TO SPEAK: Looking for a speaker who challenges comfort and calls out truth? Erin is available for team workshops, parent seminars, and leadership events. 📩 [email protected] THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard.New episodes drop every Monday.Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.