Science is just starting to understand the benefits of athletes putting their brains in ‘auto pilot’
- Written by Michael John O'Keeffe, Adjunct Research Fellow in Sports Coaching, The University of Queensland
In a much-publicised 2014 study, two Japanese neuroscience researchers found Brazilian soccer star Neymar used 90% less of his brain capacity – measured by neuron signals – compared to a group of Spanish second division players.
In simple terms, it was as if his brain was on auto pilot compared to the lower-level athletes.
The study...
