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The Athlete's Nervous System

The social neuroscience of high performance

Sport and Competition
The Nerves Don't Go Away

Margaret Smith Ph.D. on November 19, 2024

Nervousness before a big race or other competition is to be expected. But whether nerves help or harm our performance depends in part on our perception.

Nervousness before a big race or other competition is to be expected. But whether nerves help or harm our performance depends in part on our perception.

Anxiety
On Loss and Anxiety

Margaret Smith Ph.D. on November 7, 2024

After a high-stakes loss, teams get better—and put themselves in a position to compete at the top of their game again—by offering each other these thoughts and actions.

After a high-stakes loss, teams get better—and put themselves in a position to compete at the top of their game again—by offering each other these thoughts and actions.

Adverse Childhood Experiences
Attitude Is (Not Always) a Choice

Margaret Smith Ph.D. on October 14, 2024

We don’t have access to choice when we perceive a threat. And when it comes to threats, our nervous systems don’t differentiate between perception and reality.

We don’t have access to choice when we perceive a threat. And when it comes to threats, our nervous systems don’t differentiate between perception and reality.

Sport and Competition
Elite Athletics and the Social Nervous System

Margaret Smith Ph.D. on September 25, 2024

From rookies to GOATS, we’re physiologically, psychologically, emotionally, and socially connected to each other, and we can use that connection for elite performance.

From rookies to GOATS, we’re physiologically, psychologically, emotionally, and socially connected to each other, and we can use that connection for elite performance.