Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Brain Snacks for Teens: Neuron Mirroring


By Alex Southmayd

I’ve been playing squash for about 5 years. A few years ago, I noticed that if I watched a professional squash match and got on the court shortly after, I played much better than I normally did. I didn’t know exactly why I had become a better squash player just like that–until my dad told me about mirror neurons. As most people would respond, I asked him, "What the heck are mirror neurons?" He told me that there was a group of neuroscientists from the University of Parma, in Italy, who were doing extensive research on the brain activity of macaque monkeys. Giacomo Rizzolatti, MD and his team of neuroscientists observed that certain neurons, or nerve cells, in the monkey’s brain got fired off not only when it engaged in a particular hand-to-mouth activity, but also when it observed that same hand-to-mouth activity in other primates. It was one of the biggest breakthroughs in the field of neuroscience, and these particular brain cells are now called mirror neurons.

Basically, mirror neurons work like this: when you see someone doing something, the same neurons that are active when you see the person performing the action are also active when you perform the action. This is why, when you see somebody yawn, you yawn, too. When someone smiles at you, you can’t help but smile back. When you are with somebody who’s sad, you become sad also and feel their pain.
If you are an athlete, understanding the power of mirror neurons is invaluable. I watch as many squash videos as I possibly can, because I know that the same neurons that are fired off when I am playing squash are also being fired off when I am watching a professional.
www.patentmonkey.com

Alex’s Two-Step Plan for Using Your Mirror to Excellence

1. Find as much video, whether on DVD or on the Net, for your particular sport as you possibly can. Make sure that the videos are of professionals. Remember, if you are going to model anyone, you want to model the best of the best.
2. Watch as much of it as you can! Remember: monkey see, monkey do.

Image: Tom Curtis / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

WHAT ARE BRAIN SNACKS??? By Alex Southmayd
There is an old adage, "Success leaves tracks." If someone is particularly successful in an area of his or her life, then he or she is doing certain things day in and day out to produce that success. Brain Snacks are effective ideas and strategies to help teens turbo-charge their lives. They are delicious and nutritious "snacks" of information that can help teens become happier and more successful in their lives and, ultimately, make the world a better place.

© Copyright 2008, Alex Southmayd

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • •

Filed under: Featured Post • personal development

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!