Brain training: Kirk Cousins' reveals his neurofeedback regimen on Netflix's Quarterback
Netflix's hit series, Quarterback, provides viewers with a glimpse into the lives and training routines of renowned NFL quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota.
In the fourth episode titled "Mind Games," the spotlight turns to the mental aspect of the game, exploring how quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins must memorize their playbook to ensure efficient offensive execution.
Kirk Cousins, the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, unveils his secret to top-notch performance in this episode. Alongside proper nutrition, healthy sleep patterns, and physical training, Cousins says that he incorporates neurofeedback into his training regimen to sharpen his mental capabilities.
Neurofeedback, a form of brain training, enables Cousins to enhance his focus, self-control over mood, and reaction time. This technique proves invaluable for quarterbacks who encounter high-stress situations demanding quick decision-making and unwavering precision on the field.
By harnessing the power of neurofeedback in sports, Cousins refines his attention and self-regulation skills, ensuring peak performance when it matters most. This episode demonstrates the importance of mental training in a quarterback's success and how neurofeedback plays a role in Cousins' preparation.
What is mental training?
Even if you are in peak physical condition, an untrained mind can undermine your performance. Doubt, stress, anxiety, and distractions can all hinder your ability to perform at your best.
Mental training improves skills like focus, managing distractions, stress regulation, building confidence, connecting mind and body, and developing habits that support performance.
The back-to-back Super bowl champion and three-time MVP, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, believes that mental training is crucial for success. He shares that meditation plays a significant role in his preparation, helping him refocus amidst the many events of the NFL season.
What is neurofeedback and what is its role in mental conditioning?
Neurofeedback is a technique that allows individuals to gain real-time insights into their brain activity, enabling them to improve their mental sharpness and overall wellbeing.
It involves conditioning specific brain states by providing immediate feedback through auditory cues, visual cues, or interactive games. By making brain states more apparent, neurofeedback accelerates the learning process and facilitates changes in behaviors and brainwave patterns.
Neurofeedback, first tested in the 1950s for controlling epileptic seizures, has evolved and found applications in various domains. Today, it is used not only for medical purposes but also in health practices and high-performance training.
Unleashing performance potential: Neurofeedback training in sports
Car racing
Neurofeedback training extends its impact beyond football. In the world of racing, drivers are leveraging this innovative technique to optimize their performance on the track. Studies have demonstrated the positive effects of neurofeedback training on a driver's focus, reaction time, and overall cognitive performance behind the wheel.
In a featured experiment on the British TV segment "The Racing Mind," professional race car drivers showcased the impact of neurofeedback on racing performance. Using the Muse S Headband, neurofeedback techniques resulted in improved decision-making abilities, enhanced focus, and increased mental clarity during races. By training their brains to reach an ideal state of arousal and focus, drivers can make precise split-second decisions and perform at their peak in high-pressure conditions.
Golf
A study from the University of Toronto and Aix-Marseille University found that just seven minutes of meditation with neurofeedback can positively affect sports performance.
Participants in the study had their brain wave activity measured using Muse before engaging in a putting exercise. After the first 30 putts, they were given a seven-minute break and instructed to either meditate with or without Muse, or simply relax without a neurofeedback device.
After the break, researchers measured the participants' brain activity again and had them resume for another 30 putts. The results revealed that those who meditated showed a significant decrease in brain activity related to voluntary movement control, leading to improved putting performance compared to those who only relaxed.
Muse: A powerful ally in neurofeedback training
Muse plays a pivotal role in optimizing mental performance. In his mental training journey, Cousins relies on the Muse S Headband in the fourth episode of "Quarterback." In the episode, Cousins is seen using Myndlift, a home-based neurofeedback platform that incorporates the Muse brain-sensing headband for comprehensive EEG-based brain assessments and training.
By using electroencephalogram (EEG) technology, Muse has the ability to detect and analyze brainwave activity. This includes the five different bands: gamma, beta, alpha, theta, and delta.
Muse's advanced sensors measure all brainwave types in real-time, giving users valuable insights into their mental states. With the help of a machine-learning algorithm, Muse harnesses the power of each brainwave band to identify states of calm, activity, and neutrality. This comprehensive brainwave analysis enables users to understand and adjust their mental states with precision.
Through auditory cues, Muse guides users toward desired brainwave states, such as increased focus and relaxation. By combining brainwave analysis and neurofeedback, individuals can optimize mental functioning, reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance cognitive and physical performance.
For an NFL athlete like Cousins, maintaining focus, staying calm, and sharpening cognitive agility in high-pressure situations is crucial.
A study conducted by Prof. Michela Balconi's lab at the Catholic University of Milan showcased notable improvements in cognitive performance and stress reduction among participants who used Muse daily.
The results demonstrated the following:
- The group using Muse showed improved cognitive performance with faster response times in a complex reaction task.
- Participants using Muse demonstrated changes in their resting brain states similar to mindfulness meditators, indicating enhanced relaxation control.
- The Muse group exhibited brain plasticity changes, suggesting increased neural efficiency and improved information processing.
- Compared to the control group, the Muse group experienced a significant 16% reduction in perceived stress within a four-week period.
Optimizing athletic performance with sleep and neurofeedback
Sleep plays a vital role in athletic performance, with quality sleep essential for physical recovery, mental sharpness, cognitive function, and overall wellbeing. It influences reaction time, decision-making abilities, focus, and injury prevention.
Neurofeedback, as facilitated by tools like the Muse S Headband, can significantly enhance sleep quality. By monitoring brainwave activity during sleep and providing real-time feedback, neurofeedback technology not only enhances relaxation and reduces disturbances but also significantly improves sleep quality.
In fact, studies have demonstrated that users have experienced an impressive 20% improvement in sleep quality compared to control groups, which would ultimately contribute to athletic performance.
By integrating neurofeedback technology into their sleep routines, athletes like Cousins can potentially elevate their performance. This technology not only enhances relaxation and reduces disturbances but also significantly improves sleep quality.
The Muse S Headband offers several key features that contribute to its effectiveness:
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Brainwave monitoring and regulation: The Muse S Headband EEG-based technology monitors brainwave activity during sleep, providing real-time feedback to promote relaxation and facilitate restful sleep.
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Customized sleep experiences: The Muse S Headband offers various sleep experiences, including journeys, soundscapes, guidances, and digital sleeping aids. These experiences adapt to your brain's activity, helping you relax, transition into sleep, and return to sleep if awakened during the night.
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Neurofeedback-driven sleep tracking: The Muse S Headband tracks sleep patterns and provides insights into sleep stages, efficiency, duration of deep sleep, and sleep position.
This feedback empowers athletes to better understand their sleep quality and make informed adjustments to optimize their sleep routines.
The impact of neurofeedback training on performance
Cousins is a prime example that combining physical training with consistent neurofeedback practices can significantly optimize performance. Whether it's maintaining focus during high-pressure games, managing stress, or enhancing cognitive function, this blend of technology and mental conditioning is setting the stage for training in professional sports.
As our world becomes increasingly fast-paced, the value of mental agility and resilience matches, if not surpasses, physical strength. Tools like the Muse 2 Headband or the Muse S Headband offer benefits beyond the realm of elite athletes. They improve our day-to-day by navigating the challenges of our personal and professional lives with a sharper mind.
If you're ready to unlock your full potential and enhance your mental performance as an athlete or in your daily life, harness the power of real-time neurofeedback with Muse. You'd be training your mind in the same way that top-performing athletes do, setting yourself up for peak performance.
Muse users can unlock 500+ guided meditations on the Muse app including The Performance Collection which was designed to help you perform at the highest level, no matter what challenge you may be facing. Let go of stress, tap into your inner strength, and bring your A-game to every aspect of your life.
Check out the Performance Collection on our app today >>
References:
“The Racing Mind” at Goodwood Speed Week. https://vimeo.com/470918594
Damjanovic, Jelena. 2019, September 4. The zen of golf: Study finds as little as seven minutes of meditation can improve your game. The University of Toronto. https://kpe.utoronto.ca/faculty-news/zen-golf-study-finds-little-seven-minutes-meditation-can-improve-your-game
Balconi, M.; Fronda, G.; Venturella, I.; Crivelli, D. Conscious, Pre-Conscious and Unconscious Mechanisms in Emotional Behaviour. Some Applications to the Mindfulness Approach with Wearable Devices. Appl. Sci. 2017, 7, 1280. https://doi.org/10.3390/app7121280
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