What is Neurosports?

Neurosports, also known as sports neuroscience, is the interdisciplinary field focused on understanding the neural mechanisms of sports performance, and the development of brain-based tools and techniques to improve athletic training, recovery, and performance. Researchers in neurosports explore questions such as:

• How does physical activity relate to changes in brain structure/function?
• Can participation in sports affect our auditory processing?
• Can neural signals help understand the burnout of athletes?; and
• Can brain stimulation be used to enhance sports performance?

Neurosports employs a range of research methods, including fMRI, EEG, TMS, cognitive psychology, neurofeedback, and motor imagery, to investigate these questions. Neurosports is related to the field of sports psychology, which is larger and well-established. Neurosports is newer, with a focus on measuring brain activity and using new tools to modify brain function.

In addition to research, neurosports also includes practitioners who design neuroscience-informed training programs that focus on motor learning, injury reduction, reaction time, and other cognitive tasks. For example, reaction-based drills, neurofeedback, and other techniques are used to understand and improve athletic performance.

Like many NeuroX fields, research in neurosports is still emerging and the techniques being deployed are still often in exploratory stages. For example, the use of neurofeedback has become an area of interest for professionals in athletic performance, but the causal link between neurofeedback and performance outcomes is not fully understood or established.

• Videos
• Careers
• Education
• Resources

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Videos

Careers

A career in neurosports will include researching the relationship between brain science and sports performance, applying brain science to improve performance, or a combination of both. Titles that may appear in the neurosports world include: sports neuroscience researchers, neuroperformance coaches, sports neurologists, and sports neuropsychologists.

In academics and research, professionals such as sports neuroscientists and movement neuroscientists investigate the brain and the nervous system in areas such as recovery, motor control, cognition-based tasks, and other skill learning in athletes. These scientists use neuroimaging methods, data analysis, and other research and experimental methods. Many academic researchers hold PhDs in relevant fields, such as exercise science/physiology, psychology, or cognitive neuroscience.

A different way to do neurosports research is to create new tools. Neurotechnology developers with a sports focus may design and test wearable materials, like neurofeedback tools, that measure or affect brain performance in athletes. For those who want to apply research in practice, a clinical track is more appropriate. For example, sports neuropsychologists focus on assessing and treating brain-related issues such as concussion, cognitive performance, etc, through cognitive assessments and other protocols.

Education

At this early stage in the field of neurosports, there are not graduate or undergraduate programs solely dedicated to neurosports. Some universities have courses in this field, but most do not. The pathway to neurosports will thus require you to be an entrepreneur and pursue a program that will allow you to explore neurosports. This might include undergraduate level work in neuroscience, kinesiology, cognitive science, and exercise and sport science. At the graduate level, there are options for Master’s or Doctoral training in cognitive neuroscience, human performance, sports science, and movement science. The best option is to find a mentor who is already working in neurosports and can help you navigate your career. Below we’ve listed some of the prominent leaders and labs in this field—but search yourself for more because the field is quickly evolving.

Resources