Momentum is a well-known competitive concept - and it has a basis in the nervous system.
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CO-CEO, NEUROFIT
1 MINUTE READ
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UPDATED MAY 17, 2023
MOMENTUM & THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Momentum is a well-known competitive concept - and it turns out to have a basis in the nervous system. In this article, we’ll discuss momentum in the context of athletic competitions.
MOMENTUM COMES FROM THE PLAY STATE
Peak performance comes through the Play state. The Play state is a state of mind in which the individual is completely focused, in the zone, and able to tap into their full potential. When teams have momentum in athletic competition, they are collectively tapped into the Play state, and building off of each others energy, and are completely immersed in the activity, not thinking about anything else.
LOSING MOMENTUM & DORSAL VAGAL
On the other hand, when momentum is against a team during a competition, their nervous systems drift ever so slightly towards the Dorsal Vagal shutdown state. In Dorsal Vagal, an individual is not in the moment and is not able to tap into their full potential. For teams, the Dorsal Vagal shutdown state is characterized by a collective sense of apathy, fatigue, or feeling dissociated from the activity.
TRAINING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM TO RESPOND TO MOMENTUM SWINGS
By training the nervous system to familiarize with the Play and Stillness states, teams can both build resistance to the Dorsal Vagal shutdown state and increase access to the Play peak performance state - making them more resilient, as well as better able to cultivate momentum.
80% of the nerves in the human body are "afferent" - running from body to brain. Under stress, when the nervous system and thinking brain tell different stories, the nervous system almost always wins.
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Nervous System Fitness is the degree of flexibility and resilience of one's nervous system. The name implies that the nervous system can be trained and strengthened, much like physical fitness.
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In the Play state, the Sympathetic and Ventral Vagal responses are in balance. We're alert and focused, but we're also relaxed and in control. This state is beneficial for overall well-being because it allows us to tap into our creativity, problem-solve more effectively, and build strong social bonds. It also builds resistance to the Sympathetic stress response, ensuring that we only experience activation in response to actual threats.
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The dorsal vagal state is characterized by a complete shutdown of the body's systems, and the onset of dense emotions such as hopelessness and apathy. This state is triggered the gut, also known as the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) by external stressors that are perceived as dangerous and overwhelming.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NeuroFit - available for iOS and Android.