Repetition is a time-honored method for sharpening technical skills needed in an emergency. Physicians, pilots, soldiers and police have utilized sophisticated simulators to create scenarios requiring rapid and precise decisions for many years. There may now be a way for athletes to train their brains in a similar way.
The nervous system can be described as an electrical grid with wires (neurons) that interact to form intricate networks. These networks carry sensory and motor signals that result in conscious actions. Neural plasticity refers to the ability of the brain to create new pathways that replace injured areas of the nervous system.
Recent studies have looked at a generation of subjects who have been playing video games. The results show that people who play action games are able to make decisions 25% faster than people who don’t, without sacrificing accuracy.
Experienced video game players can process information and act on the information four times faster than non-gamers.
Axon Sports is known for designing and implementing computerized cognitive testing used in the assessment of concussion. Their latest venture involves training the brain to make rapid and accurate decisions in a variety of athletic situations.
Computerized sports training is specific to an athlete’s sport and position played. Quarterbacks are presented with different defenses and batters visualize various pitches. One goal is to present many game situations without subjecting the player to injury.
The “athletic brain” is trained for high-speed decision-making, visualization, emotional regulation, focus, reaction and spatial reasoning.
“The athletic brain is a vehicle for athletes to make optimal decisions in game-time situations,” said Jason Sada, President of Axon Sports.
Soon these computerized training programs will be accessible to the general public and many young athletes.
In addition to aerobic and resistive training it appears that cognitive training is becoming an essential component to a balanced fitness regimen.