Author: Matt Campagna

Imagine a state where you feel significantly challenged but also that you are excelling. In the athletic world, peak performance is often a result of mental and physical synergy, where athletes become so engrossed in their activity that they enter a state of complete absorption. This state, known as “flow,” has become a subject of fascination for researchers and enthusiasts alike.

1. The Dynamics of Flow

While many recognize the profound effect of flow on performance, its dynamics have been somewhat elusive. A study by Roberta Antonini Philippe and colleagues qualitatively explored the journey of athletes into, within, and out of flow. They identified three phases:

• Preparation to Enter Flow: Setting the stage.
• Entry into the Flow State: Immersion begins.
• Exit from the Flow State: Gradual detachment

 

While we will not explore these phases in depth in this post, in this immersive experience emotions serve not just as indicators of an athlete’s state of mind, but also as a driving force that facilitates the transition from one phase to another. The way an athlete feels during preparation can profoundly influence their entry into the flow, and similarly, their emotions as they’re deeply engrossed in the activity will determine the ease with which they exit the flow state.

Flow in the Athletic Realm

Delving further into the realm of sports, the concept of flow finds its roots in everyday life experiences as presented by Csikszentmihalyi. However, it wasn’t long before researchers began to investigate its significance in sports. Defined as the optimal state for sports practice, flow is characterized by Vara et. al in the following nine dimensions:

• Perceived challenges that stretch existing skills.
• Action-awareness union.
• Clear goals.
• Positive feedback.
• Concentration on the task at hand.
• A sense of control.
• Loss of self-consciousness.
• Distorted time perception.
• Autotelic experience (performing an action for its inherent pleasure).

 

These dimensions provide athletes a comprehensive framework to understand their experiences during peak performances. Interestingly, many elite athletes have mentioned experiencing these attributes during their best performances, underlining the validity of these dimensions in a real-world setting.

Temporal Processing & Flow’s Influence on Perception and Cognition

A pivotal link between flow and enhanced performance capabilities lies in its influence on perception. A study by Sinnett et. al exemplifies this by demonstrating how flow impacts spatiotemporal perception and processing. Participants, which included both athletes and musicians, showed improved performance in temporal order judgment tasks after experiencing flow. This indicates that being in a flow state potentially enhances perceptual abilities of time, providing a cognitive edge during high-level performances.

Taking it a step further, it’s intriguing to relate flow states to inhibition which we touched on in our last post you can read here. It’s plausible that when athletes are in flow, their ability to inhibit distractions becomes more pronounced. This sharpened focus, combined with improved spatial and temporal processing capabilities, could be the very essence of why flow states are so sought after in the athletic domain.

Conclusion

The mysterious phenomenon of flow in athletics, although abstract, is beginning to unveil its intricate dynamics through research. As we understand more about its phases, dimensions, and influence on perception, we can better appreciate its significance in peak athletic performances. As athletes and trainers alike aim to consistently achieve this state, the revelations about flow promise to revolutionize training methodologies and redefine performance benchmarks in sports.

At Reflexion, this is a topic we are actively exploring. Reflexion GO, our personalized VR training product, adapts to your abilities to attempt to keep you in a flow state where you feel challenged but also that you are performing well – balancing the emotions to keep you engaged and in a state where you are pushing yourself. As we continue to build out the product this is a concept into which we will delve much further and will likely write more about on this blog. Tell us about your experience reaching flow state. How did you get there?

Achieving Flow: An Exploratory Investigation of Elite College Athletes and Musicians Roberta Antonini Philippe, et al.

Measuring optimal psychological states: Proposal of two brief versions to measure flow and clutch in athletes Alejandro Sánchez Vara, et al.

Flow States and Associated Changes in Spatial and Temporal Processing Scott Sinnett, et al.

Introduction

Neuro training has become an integral part of enhancing cognitive performance among certain NBA players and teams. As the game becomes more competitive, athletes are seeking innovative methods to gain an edge on the court. In this blog post, we will explore how renowned players such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Gordon Hayward utilize specific neuro training tools that focus on distinct and unique aspects of mental performance to elevate their skills. We will then contrast these various approaches to the 2023 NBA Champions, the Denver Nuggets’ team-wide implementation of Reflexion neuro training, ensuring peak cognitive performance and championship success.

Approaches

1. LeBron James and Calm Meditation App: LeBron James, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, harnesses the power of mindfulness through the Calm meditation app. Recognizing the importance of mental well-being, LeBron uses Calm to cultivate a focused and resilient mindset. By practicing meditation and embracing the calming techniques offered by the app, he finds clarity amidst pressure and strengthens his ability to perform during crucial moments on the court. This form of neuro training focuses on the psychological state of the player in order to optimize performance. 
2. Gordon Hayward and VR: Gordon Hayward, an experienced player who has faced injury challenges in 2018, turned to a VR simulation product for rehabilitation and mental conditioning. Through virtual reality technology, Hayward immersed himself in realistic basketball scenarios, allowing him to visualize his actions and interactions with teammates on the court. This not only aided in physical recovery but also kept his mental state sharp and connected to the game, preventing his basketball IQ from fading during rehab. Hayward’s use of neuro training focused on situational training that emulated the scenarios he would see on the court.
3. Stephen Curry and Strobe Glasses: Stephen Curry, known for his incredible shooting skills, incorporates strobe glasses into his training routine. These glasses disrupt vision by intermittently blocking the wearer’s sight in all or part of the field of view. By challenging his visual processing and reaction time, Curry’s brain adapts to make quicker decisions with limited visual input. This neuro training tool helps him elevate his performance by training his brain to process information more efficiently even when his vision is momentarily impaired.
4. Denver Nuggets and Reflexion: The 2023 NBA Champion Denver Nuggets implemented team-wide neuro training in 2022. Led by their strength and conditioning coach, Felipe Eichenberger, the Nuggets prioritize neuro training using alongside physical conditioning in the weight room. Reflexion enables the team to train their brains to be sharper, more focused, and make split-second decisions during high-pressure game situations. This is accomplished by training reaction time, inhibition, prioritization, eye-hand coordination, and tracking with specific drills that improve those skills using Reflexion’s lightboard product, the Edge.
   
   Eichenberger emphasizes the importance of neuro training “the goal is to decrease the amount of turnovers that they have [and] to know where they have to be when they’re tired.” The Nuggets pair high-intensity exercises, such as sprints and on-court drills, with drills on the Edge to simulate the mental demands of the game just like switching from offense to defense.
   
   The Nuggets use Reflexion for neuro priming before each game.  They are able to select and customize drills that apply most to each player’s cognitive demands in order to get them in the zone before heading to the court. This holistic approach ensures that every player on the team reaches their peak cognitive performance, reducing turnovers, improving decision-making, and increasing overall team efficiency.

 

 

Conclusion

Neuro training has become a vital component of the NBA, empowering players to enhance their cognitive abilities and improve on-court performance. From LeBron James utilizing the Calm meditation app for mental clarity to Stephen Curry incorporating strobe glasses to sharpen his decision-making, and Gordon Hayward using virtual reality for rehabilitation and mental conditioning, these players exemplify the significance of cognitive training tools.

Moreover, the Denver Nuggets’ team-wide adoption of the neuro training with Reflexion showcases the team’s commitment to maximizing cognitive performance. By training their brains alongside physical conditioning, the Nuggets have elevated their gameplay, one of many factors leading to their stunning championship victory. As neuro training continues to revolutionize the NBA, we can expect more teams and players to embrace these innovative tools to gain a competitive edge and achieve greater success on the court.

To learn more about other types of neuro training, check out our blog post: The Different Forms of Neuro Training

Click here to watch our interview with Denver Nuggets Performance Director, Felipe Eichenberger.

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As we age, our cognitive abilities, coordination, and brain function begin to decline. However, research has shown that cognitive training can help improve brain health, especially for individuals aged 50 to 65 years old. Perth Integrated Health has partnered with Reflexion to conduct a pilot research study aimed at establishing normative data for individuals within this age range, in relation to reaction time, peripheral vision, and object differentiation.

The study aims to investigate how ageing affects cognitive abilities and brain functionality. By participating in this research, individuals within the specified age range can make a significant contribution to improving brain health. This non-invasive research will take only 30 minutes of participants time and will involve using Reflexion as an assessment tool. Participants need to be living in Metropolitan Perth and have no known cognitive or neurological conditions.

The research testing for volunteers will take place from 8th May 2023 to 8th July 2023 at Perth Integrated Health’s Applecross or Balcatta clinics. Participants will automatically be entered into a draw to win a weekend stay for two people at the Hilton Doubletree at Elizabeth Quay.

To participate in the research study, or for more information, please contact lead researchers Jyn or Emma on their following contacts: Jyn at [email protected] or (08) 6245 0637, and Emma at [email protected] or (08) 6187 3693. Alternatively, you can email Research Advisor Ian Wee via [email protected].

At Reflexion, we believe that cognitive training is essential to maintaining and improving brain health. We are proud to partner with Perth Integrated Health to conduct this research study aimed at improving brain health for individuals aged 50 to 65 years old. We hope that this research will shed light on the effects of ageing on cognitive abilities and will pave the way for future research and advancements in the field of brain health.

For those interested in participating, testing will be held at Perth Integrated Health’s Applecross or Balcatta clinics. There is no need to prepare for the test, just arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled timing, and instructions will be given on the day of testing. The study involves doing a total of 3 tests on our touchscreen instrumentation tool, the “Edge”, that target reaction time, peripheral vision, and object differentiation.

We believe that this research will make a significant contribution to the field of brain health and we are excited to see the results of the study. Thank you for your interest in improving brain health with Reflexion and Perth Integrated Health.

Best regards,
Matt Campagna
Founder & CEO

Follow Perth Integrated Health on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perthintegrated

In our latest YouTube video, Reflexion takes a trip to Denver to chat with one of the NBA’s top performance directors, Felipe Eichenberger. We learned exactly how he is using Reflexion to give his athletes an edge on the court. 

Felipe is the head strength and conditioning coach for the Denver Nuggets. Having been with the Nuggets for the better of 12 seasons, he knows a thing or two about fitness and performance optimization. Implementing a training protocol that sets his athletes up for championship titles is no easy feat, and going that extra mile is just the standard. The Edge serves as an effective “secret weapon” for the Denver Nuggets – one that is changing the game big time. 

Neuro training takes advantage of the body’s natural inclination to adapt while under fatigue. By training the mind in tandem with the body, an athlete is able to make simultaneous strength and mental gains. Felipe describes utilizing the Edge as a way to improve his athlete’s performance in a way that “no one else is doing”.

 

He explains, “We are lifting heavy weights. We are consistently in the weight room. We are doing all those things. What are we missing? And that was the brain.” In the NBA, everybody’s got skill. The question is, how long can you maintain that level of skill, without making mistakes, while you’re under physical and mental stress? That’s where neuro training comes in. Mental clarity, decision-making speed, and awareness under fatigue are crucial assets to a well-played game – and the players are witnessing the benefits firsthand. 

Right now, the Edge gives the Nuggets a unique advantage when it comes to mental training. But Felipe believes that neuro training is the future and that it should be incorporated into NBA teams’ programs at large. “Teams should train the proper way, and I do think using the Edge board is training the proper way… Using Reflexion over the last year has helped us to achieve a lot more than what we have in the past.” 

To see more about how the Nuggets are using the Edge, watch our latest YouTube video.

When you think about fitness, images of cardio and weightlifting exercises come to mind, but that’s only half of the picture. At Reflexion, true holistic fitness means training the mind with as much fervor and dedication as the body. That’s how you optimize yourself to achieve your full functioning potential. 

It just so happens that the brain is most primed for an effective workout when the body is under physical stress as well. That’s why in our latest YouTube video, Steven and Tyler break down exactly how the Edge can be incorporated into a workout – even with more than one person.

Neuro training is critically important for razor-sharp mental function. This is especially true for athletes. Sports demand fast, complex, and strategic decision-making, all while being subject to considerable physical stress. Think of a soccer player running down the field, analyzing defensemen, or a winded wide receiver needing to catch the ball. The EDGE can be an invaluable addition to any routine, optimizing the mind for reliable function during these high-stress moments.

Whether you play a sport or not, neuro training provides an outlet for the brain to improve upon its clarity and sharpness during times of elevated fatigue – something that’s hard to replicate in any other training setting. With a wide array of mind-flexing drills and challenges, it’s easy to create a protocol with the EDGE that compliments your physical workout. 

In a cardio context, you can allow your partner to complete the EDGE drills, while you get your heart pumping with workouts like box jumps, jump rope, lunge jumps, or sprints. Once the time is up, switch positions and experience the dizzying challenges of “Minefield” and “Waterfall” – two of the EDGE’s most challenging games. In the weight room? Incorporate the drills “Expanding Out” and “Pursue” for a super set like you’ve never experienced before. 

The long and short of it is: 

The EDGE provides a total training experience that pushes your brain and body to places no regular gym ever has. Check out our latest video to see it in action!

Reflexion Begins Testing MLB Draft Prospects

On Sunday, June 26th, 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates were finishing up a 3-game series against the Rays in Tampa Bay. While they were out of town, 3 members of the Reflexion team entered PNC Park to embark on our first official service agreement with the MLB’s Draft Operations Dept. 

It was Pro Day for the MLB Draft League summer collegiate baseball athletes. Each year, MLB sponsors 2 collegiate baseball leagues, consisting of elite college players who have been identified by scouts and are expected to eventually be selected in the MLB Draft.

Testing was performed on roughly 140 athletes in a 7-hour window and everyone hopped on their respective buses to reach their hotel destination where they would play the next day. A glimpse of what life will be like climbing the minor league ranks of whichever club drafts them…

Measurements were recorded on height, weight, wingspan & hand size. A dynamometer was used to assess grip strength in both an outstretched arm at shoulder height and overhead arm positions. VALD force plates measured vertical jump and ground force reaction pressure, then athletes filtered over to Reflexion to complete the indoor testing stations. Outdoor activities were primarily hitting & fielding.

Reflexion got on MLB’s radar after Dr. Dan Laby (sportsvision.nyc) conducted research, correlating Reflexion scores to on-field metrics, such as batting average, swing-strike percentage, on-base percentage, errors, and triples. Data for that study was collected on players who had already been drafted. This pro day event was the first opportunity to expand this talent identification model in pre-draft athletes, in hopes of identifying athletes whose cognitive skills already operate at a major league level.

Most are familiar with the NFL Combine, a multi-day event where prospective draft picks are tested in a battery of physical measurements and on-field drills. This event has occurred annually since 1982 and historical data can show a relationship between size, strength, and speed to elite performance in the NFL for every position on the field.

A “Pro Day” is somewhat of an abbreviated combine, where everything takes place in a single day and the selection of testing is reduced to what is “essential only”.  Test results are then compiled and distributed to all 30 MLB clubs, where data analysts & scouts view the overall physical & cognitive performance of an athlete.

This is only the 2nd year the MLB has started collecting official data in combine and pro day testing, so historical data does not exist yet. Therefore, deciding if an athlete is exceptional, average, or has a deficiency is somewhat of an art form.

In the absence of historical information, the MLB decided to bring in a series of experts in each piece of technology used in the testing. Around 20 independent contractors were on-site to ensure unbiased testing, comprised of former major league and minor league strength coaches, sports medicine specialists, and technology partners.

Finding ways to support outstanding athletic performance can be challenging. At Reflexion, we designed the Edge and the Flex to provide real help in developing the cognitive and perception skills needed by top athletes. The Reflexion team recently had the chance to visit with the Valencia family in Morgan Hill, California to learn how the Edge is helping Nyla and Aden Valencia pursue their athletic goals more effectively.We caught up with Joel Valencia at his home to discuss his approach to parenting and training the two elite athletes in his family. Aden and Nyla both won titles in the U.S.A. Wrestling High School National Showcase in March 2021. This led directly to invitations to serve as warmup partners to competitors who were vying for their own spots in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Nyla is a two-time national champion and a silver medalist at the Pan American Games, while Aden is a U15 world champion in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling. Joel serves as one of their trainers and has put the neuro-training capabilities of the Edge to work in helping both young athletes to achieve their full potential.Wrestling requires both physical strength and cognitive skills to reach the highest levels of competition. Joel explained that, along with the strength training and other physical conditioning equipment available to Nyla and Aden, the Reflexion Edge provides the reaction training necessary to respond quickly during wrestling competitions. By using the Edge in the home training setting, both Aden and Nyla can improve their reaction times while enhancing their hand-eye coordination and their cognitive skills. Joel and the Valencia siblings both attribute a portion of their success to their neuro-training regimen with the Reflexion Edge.At Reflexion, we are pleased to contribute to the success of Nyla and Aden Valencia in the wrestling field. We offer advanced neuro-training solutions that include the Edge and the Flex. These systems can help athletes achieve the best performance and are ideally suited for building cognitive strength during the physical training process.To learn more about how Reflexion can make great athletes even better, visit us online or call us at 402-525-3789. You can also reach us at [email protected] to request more information. The Reflexion team is here to help you achieve the best results for all your athletic endeavors.

 

 

At Reflexion, we appreciate our customers and the ways in which they use our Flex and Edge products to promote improved cognitive skills. We recently had the opportunity to touch base with the team at Life Long Wellness, a valued client of Reflexion and a leading source for chiropractic, acupuncture, and Reflexion neuro-training services in the Salt Lake City area.Life Long Wellness takes a holistic approach to wellness and physical health. With two of our Flex systems and an Edge system in place for clients, the team at Life Long Wellness can create real synergy by combining acupuncture, massage, chiropractic treatments, and nutritional services with the neuro-training made possible by Reflexion systems. This can allow patients of Life Long Wellness to enjoy the benefits of holistic care in a professional setting.Life Long Wellness incorporates technological solutions like the Flex and Edge systems alongside the ancient and proven techniques of acupuncture, chiropractic and massage therapies. The facility is located just 15 minutes north of Salt Lake City in Kaysville, Utah, and is owned and operated by Dr. Jason Atkinson, a licensed chiropractic physician, and board-certified acupuncturist. Life Long Wellness caters to the extreme sports enthusiast as well as everyday individuals seeking help in maintaining fitness and wellness.Many of the patients at Life Long Wellness are looking for an integrated solution that treats both the mind and the body. The Reflexion systems in place at the facility are used to augment chiropractic and acupuncture treatments to assist in faster healing and to improve the cognitive skills that contribute to physical healing. In particular, the Flex system by Reflexion is used by staff members to assess cognitive skills of new patients. This allows Life Long Wellness to tailor a treatment and fitness plan specifically for each patient they see. By engaging the mind with Flex and Edge, the team at Life Long Wellness can boost the power of the human brain and central nervous system to promote the body’s own ability to heal itself.Reflexion specializes in providing technologically advanced neuro-training equipment that can help health care providers and fitness trainers to engage their clients more fully. To learn more about the Reflexion Edge or Flex systems, contact us today at 402-525-3789. You can also reach us by email at [email protected] or through our website. At Reflexion, we are committed to helping people achieve their highest potential with neuro-training solutions that promote better physical and cognitive health.