High performance shooting requires a tremendous amount of mental focus. The best shooters will tell you once you’ve mastered physical mechanics, it’s all a mental game. If that’s true, then why is it so difficult to maintain that requisite level of mental focus?
Like water running downhill seeks the path of least resistance, the human brain—a finely tuned instrument designed for maximum efficiency—is genetically predisposed to optimize CPU processing power. Its default setting is to conserve energy, work effort and bandwidth like water flowing along the path of least resistance.
The brain's tendency towards relaxation versus the hard mental focus required for shooting well is a complex interplay of various neurological processes. In his book "The Brain That Changes Itself,” Dr. Norman Doidge explores the concept of neuroplasticity and how the brain can rewire itself throughout life. While the book covers a wide range of topics related to brain plasticity, it also offers insights into why it can be difficult to focus mentally. The book presents salient topics relevant to mental laziness versus focus.
Doidge discusses how the brain's ability to change and adapt, known as neuroplasticity, plays a role in habit formation and attention. He explains that repeated behaviors and thought patterns can lead to the strengthening of neural connections associated with those habits. This process, known as Hebbian plasticity, can make it difficult to break out of habitual patterns of thinking and focus on new tasks or information.
The book explores various attentional disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and their underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Doidge discusses how disruptions in neural circuits involved in attention and executive function can contribute to difficulties in maintaining focus and inhibiting distractions.
Doidge examines how modern environments characterized by constant stimulation and information overload can impact attention and focus. He suggests that excessive sensory input can overwhelm the brain's processing capacity and lead to difficulties in concentrating on specific tasks or goals.
The book emphasizes the interconnectedness of mind and body in shaping brain function and plasticity. Doidge discusses how factors such as stress, emotions, and physical health can influence cognitive processes, including attention and focus. Chronic stress, for example, can impair cognitive function and make it harder to concentrate.
Doidge explores various interventions aimed at enhancing cognitive function and attention through targeted brain-training exercises. He discusses how activities like meditation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and neurofeedback can promote neuroplasticity and improve attentional control.
The book suggests that while focusing mentally can be challenging due to various neurobiological and environmental factors, understanding the principles of neuroplasticity and adopting strategies to harness brain plasticity can help improve attention and focus over time.
Outside of Doidge’s research, there are several accepted factors known to collectively contribute to the brain's tendency towards relaxation and its dynamic interplay with focused attention. While relaxation is essential for mental well-being, recreation and creativity, finding a balance between relaxation and focus is crucial for optimal cognitive function and productivity.
The brain has a network called the Default Mode Network (DMN), which is active when we are not focused on the outside world. This network becomes more active during restful states such as daydreaming, mind-wandering, or during passive activities. Studies have shown that the DMN is associated with self-referential thoughts, introspection, and autobiographical memory, suggesting a link between relaxation and the brain's default state.
Neurotransmitters play a crucial role in regulating brain states. For instance, the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins during relaxed states can promote feelings of pleasure and contentment. Conversely, neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and acetylcholine are associated with arousal and attention, promoting focus and alertness.
Different brain wave patterns are associated with different states of consciousness. During relaxation, the brain tends to exhibit slower alpha and theta waves, which are linked with a relaxed, meditative state. On the other hand, focused attention is associated with faster beta waves. The brain naturally oscillates between these different states throughout the day, depending on various factors such as task demands, environment, and internal states.
The brain has limited cognitive resources, and it allocates these resources based on task demands. During relaxed states, the brain may conserve energy and resources, allowing for introspection, creativity, and mental restoration. In contrast, focused attention requires the allocation of resources towards goal-directed tasks, often at the expense of other cognitive processes.
While the human brain is capable of both relaxation and focused attention, various lines of scientific evidence suggest a natural predisposition towards relaxation, which is influenced by factors such as neurobiology and environmental demands. You’re not the only riding the struggle bus to stay mentally focused in high-performance shooting. The good news is that more you train to stay on task, the more you develop mental focus. The greater your mental focus, the greater your shooting performance.
