Space Age Sports Psychology

There is a growing group of tennis players who are thankful to the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) for their improved tennis performance. This unlikely pairing began in the 1960’s when NASA funded a study to learn about reactions to rocket fuel fumes. The study was conducted by a psychologist who measured and trained the brainwaves of cats to see if changes in the felines’ brainwaves altered their ability to tolerate the fumes. As it turned out, the cats responded to the training so well, that the same training was later applied to humans. So how does this relate to tennis? Well, over the past thirty plus years the training of brainwaves, also known as neurofeedback, has expanded to include brainwave training to aid in the treatment of many undesired behaviors including epilepsy, attention deficit disorder and depression. More recently, this training which uses computer technology to measure your brainwaves and "reward" you for reaching frequencies that are considered healthful has been helping improve concentration, attention, motivation and alertness in healthy athletes seeking to improve their performance.

Neurofeedback, or brainwave training, is a way to maximize the flexibility and control of our brain states. One way to conceptualize this is as follows: our brains fluctuate between a range of levels of arousal or activation. Extremely low levels of activation mean drowsiness, inattention, lack of motivation, etc. Extremely high levels mean hypervigilance, anxiety, racing thoughts, etc. Ideally, our level of brain activation rises to an optimum level to perform a given task, and once the task is completed, the brain adjusts to the next situation at hand. In other words, we want to be able to focus on the "now" and bring whatever attentional and performance states are needed for peak functioning in that moment. Our level of brain activation should continually match the demands confronting us at any moment. When our brains do this naturally and easily, we enter that "zone" talked about in sports performance where we experience an almost effortless optimal level of functioning.

Players using this cutting edge training watch a game on a computer monitor such as pac-man moving thru a maze. There is no joystick; pac-man is powered by sensors on the players head that read the electrical impulses coming from the players brain. Every time pac-man moves, it indicates the brain has reached the "ideal" frequency. The points and beeps that are awarded in the pac-man game will soon translate into points on the tennis court. The same type of training that helped NASA astronauts minimize their reactions to rocket fuel and later helped patients with seizure disorders and ADHD is now helping to train a tennis player to focus, concentrate and stay calm under pressure. Even players who initially feel put off by the new age sound of brainwave training soon learn that they like the results of the ¾ hour weekly sessions.

The early training sessions often result in a better sleep pattern and an increased sense of alertness when awake. Players report being able to think better, more clearly and feeling less anxious. Emotions are easier to control and even confidence increases. Many players report improving their performance and enjoying the game more than before. After about 14 weeks of training, players find that they play at a mental level they never before imagined.

If all this sounds too good to be true, just remember that there was a time not so long ago when space travel seemed like a fantasy as well.

Note: Neurofeedback is part of the training programs at Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis & Education in Philadelphia, PA. For more information on the history and applications of neurofeedback look up www.eegspectrum.com.