The Athletic Brain

This book outlines many critical aspects of the athlete's brain including learning motor skills; decision making; hand preference; visual perception of speed, distance, and direction; balance; and emotion and mood.

Kenneth M. Heilman, MD, is currently a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Neurology at the University of Florida and a Staff Neurologist at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. In addition to being a clinical neurologist and an educator, he performs research on brain functions and diseases. He has written more than 600 journal articles and authored or edited 16 books. He has received many honors including being an Honorary Member of the American Neurological Association and a Fellow of the Academy of Neurology.

The Athletic Brain TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction Brain Anatomy Brief Overview Sensory Cortex and Sensory Association Areas Motor and Premotor Cortex Prefrontal Cortex Subcortical Areas Cerebellum Types of Sports Chapter ll: Movement Action Programming The Praxis "How" System Learning New Athletic Motor Skills Motor Memory Practice Specialization Precision Action Sequencing Action Recognition Strength Chapter lll: Action-Intention: "When" Programming Introduction Action Initiation Deficits in Planning and Action Initiation: Executive Dysfunction Akinesia and Abulia Hypokinesia Reward Reward Network Reinforcement Response Inhibition Motor (Action) Impersistence Motor Perseveration Chapter lV: Handedness Chapter V: Attention Definition Neuroanatomy of Attentional Networks Vigilance Chapter Vl: Visual Perception Chapter Vll. Balance Chapter Vlll: Emotions and Mood Anger Depression Chapter lX: Traumatic Brain Injury Memory Executive Functions Emotions and Mood Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Chapter X: Influence of Exercise on Age Related Cognitive Decline and Dementia References