1st Edition

The Athletic Brain

By Kenneth M. Heilman Copyright 2018
    106 Pages
    by Routledge

    106 Pages
    by Routledge

    Many parts of the athlete’s body are important for performance, such as strong muscles and bones; healthy lungs and heart; and several sensory systems, including the vision, touch, and joint position senses, and the vestibular system for balance. However, the critical element for athletic performance is, "not what you have but how you use it." The organ that decides "how you use it" is the brain. This book explains how the brain allows the athlete to perform.

    The book starts with an outline of brain anatomy, which is necessary to understand how the brain functions. The book then outlines many critical aspects of the athlete’s brain, including learning motor skills; decision-making; hand preference; visual perception of speed, distance, and direction; balance; emotions and mood. Finally, the book discusses the adverse influence of brain injuries.

    The Athletic Brain

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Chapter 1: Introduction

    Brain Anatomy

    Brief Overview

    Sensory Cortex and Sensory Association Areas

    Motor and Premotor Cortex

    Prefrontal Cortex

    Subcortical Areas

    Cerebellum

    Types of Sports

    Chapter ll: Movement Action Programming 

    The Praxis "How" System

    Learning New Athletic Motor Skills

    Motor Memory

    Practice

    Specialization

    Precision

    Action Sequencing

    Action Recognition

    Strength

    Chapter lll: Action-Intention: "When" Programming

    Introduction

    Action Initiation

    Deficits in Planning and Action Initiation: Executive Dysfunction

    Akinesia and Abulia

    Hypokinesia

    Reward

    Reward Network

    Reinforcement

    Response Inhibition

    Motor (Action) Impersistence

    Motor Perseveration

    Chapter lV: Handedness

    Chapter V: Attention

    Definition

    Neuroanatomy of Attentional Networks

    Vigilance

    Chapter Vl: Visual Perception

    Chapter Vll. Balance

    Chapter Vlll: Emotions and Mood

    Anger

    Depression

    Chapter lX: Traumatic Brain Injury

    Memory

    Executive Functions

    Emotions and Mood

    Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

    Chapter X: Influence of Exercise on Age Related Cognitive Decline and Dementia

    References

    Biography

    Kenneth M. Heilman, MD, is currently a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Neurology at the University of Florida and a Staff Neurologist at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. In addition to being a clinical neurologist and an educator, he performs research on brain functions and diseases. He has written more than 600 journal articles and authored or edited 16 books. He has received many honors including being an Honorary Member of the American Neurological Association and a Fellow of the Academy of Neurology.