DAVE ROSS

The part of the brain that says, ‘I got this’

Feb 10, 2014, 6:15 AM | Updated: 9:40 am

Jamie Anderson of the United States takes a jump on her final run in the women's snowboard slopestyle final at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

(AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Did you watch that Olympic snowboarding competition? You wonder how is that stuff even possible. It turns out the reason is because athletes brains are little different than ours.

There have been a number of experiments in the last few years focusing on a part of the brain called the insula, which has the job of predicting the future, and also the job of telling you whether your body is ready for what’s coming.

But it’s programmed to be very cautious.

Experiments have shown that even ordinary people are physically capable of more exertion, but as brain researcher Samuele Marcora told the BBC, the insular cortex tends to flash the red light.

“What actually stops you is not the physiological limit of your body, it’s the perception of effort that makes you believe the physical task is more difficult, harder than what it really is. But in reality, your body is capable of going way beyond that. So that the limit is perceptual, rather than physiological,” explained Marcora.

In athletes, this part of the brain is often larger and more active and knows more accurately what the body is capable of.

If you’ve done any hiking, you’ve probably felt that burst of energy when you finally see that the summit is just a few hundred feet ahead and suddenly you speed up. Now your body knows exactly how much energy you need. It doesn’t have to protect you anymore. Your brain sends the message – I got this.

The difference is, the Olympic brain has that kind of confidence not just at the end of the race, but right from the beginning.

You could hear it in snowboarder Jamie Anderson right after she won the gold. “It just felt so good to able to do something I knew I could do. I believed it.”

Some people look at her and see just another glamorous athlete. I look at her and I see a young woman with an amazing insular cortex.

Find more:
Latest updates from the Winter Olympics in Sochi
Photos from the Opening Ceremonies

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

3 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

10 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

30 days ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

1 month ago

The part of the brain that says, ‘I got this’