This section briefly explains the necessary theory behind the way in which your
brain works. This will put subsequent sections into context. There are two main
things you need to understand:
How parts of your brain work together, and
How your brain has evolved to react to stimuli
How Parts of Your Brain Work Together
Your brain is a hugely complex system made up of a vast number of components
interacting in a hugely complex and sophisticated way. Much of its function is
still not understood.
You will probably be aware of the theory that function of the brain is
separated into left and right hemisphere functions. This theory grossly
oversimplifies the complexity of brain function. It does, however, provide us
with a useful model to apply to sports psychology that has a feeling of
intuitive correctness.
The Left Brain/Right Brain Model
This model holds that different high level functions of your brain are localised
into either the left side or the right side in the following way:
Your Left Brain performs analytical activities that are processed
logically, in sequence, such as:
Logic and rational thinking
Language and verbal self-instruction
Mathematics
Planning and Goal Setting
Analysis of a complex skill and construction of an image of how that
skill should be performed
Whereas your Right Brain controls complex activities where many
factors are handled together, such as:
Imagery
Coordination, and execution of complex movements in space
Integration of complex skills into flowing movement
Intuition and creativity
The Left Brain (often called the Analyser) tends to be dominant, as
skills it is responsible for are most intensively trained during education. This
part of the brain analyses and understands new skills, and examines existing
technique or attitudes for errors and faults. This part of the brain is highly
effective during training in improving technique.
The Right Brain (called the Integrator) controls the best
performance of a skill by integrating all the components of the skill into one
flowing movement in which all the isolated components of the skill work
together.
This is important because either your analyser or your integrator should be
dominant in different circumstances:
During much of training the Analyser should be dominant, picking up
errors, faults in technique or harmful attitudes. It will then send
corrections to the Integrator to amend the complex skill. Letting the
'Integrator' control practice can end up in empty training, in which nothing
new is learned.
During performance, however, the Integrator should be in control, so that
all the skills learned are performed in a completely co-ordinated, flowing
way. Similarly in a sport where complex movements of other competitors have
to be taken into account, the Integrator is most effective in making
tactical decisions. Letting the analyser control performance by criticising
or analysing execution of skills distracts the integrator.
Effectively, you have achieved 'flow' when your integrator is in complete
control of a performance, and is not being distracted either by analysis from
the left side of your brain, or by external factors.
How Your Brain Reacts to Stimuli
Your brain has evolved to protect you from danger. An important part of this is
the response that draws your attention to unexpected or unusual stimuli. These
might, for example, indicate that a predator is about to strike. Things that
indicate danger might be:
Intense stimuli such as loud noise and flashing light
Movement
Unusual stimuli - things not experienced before can be dangerous
Absence of usual stimuli - lack of noise might indicate that other animals
are aware of a predator
In a natural environment, this drawing of attention is very important for
survival. However in a modern sporting environment these are distractions that
break flow. Loud noises can come from cheering crowds. Flashes of light can come
from flash photography. Movement can come from performers in unrelated events,
etc.
Part of learning flow is learning to isolate the important stimuli for the
sport from the irrelevant ones that cause distraction. This will involve
learning to selectively override your brains natural reaction to stimuli.
