Your Brain on Cubs | Medical Watch | WGNTV.com | WGN TV

Your Brain on Cubs

Thursday, March 6

In tonight's Medical Watch -- the biology of baseball. Basically, your brain on Cubs. A group of scientists figured out what happens in the brains of fans, players and coaches. The bottom line ... sports act like drugs. Only it's good for the brain.

"Baseball is a brain game."

When a pitch comes flying at a batter at close to 100 miles per hour he has only a third of a second to move. It takes nearly that long just to engage the muscles and swing. So how can a person assess the throw and swing appropriately in that short a time.

Steven Small, University of Chicago, Professor of Neurology & Psychology: "Most of what the batter has to go through in terms of preparing the swing has to happen before the pitch is released."

Enter the brain. Functional magnetic resonance images show brain areas light up not only in areas that *trigger* movement but those that *see* movement.

"The batter has to look at the wind up has to look at the way the pitcher holds the ball has to look at even little movements by the pitcher that the batter knows from previous experience."

Assessment and movement work simultaneously ... thanks to very important brain cells.

"There are certain cells in the brain that are active in both of these situations these are called mirror neuron cells."

Not everyone can call upon these areas ... they are stronger in professional athletes compared to average sports fans.

"This skill is present in experts."

And in the best players the mirror neuron cells get better over time.

"Your average cubs hitter is a someone who has perfected certain brain functions for purpose of baseball."

University of Chicago Professor of Neurology Dr. Steven Small wrote the chapter on players' brains.

So what about fans? Their brains are hit by the game as well, releasing chemicals that give a positive feeling. Cubs fans, according to the scientists, have more than most. Which explains how they stick with a team for a century of disappointment.

If you want to learn more about "Your Brain on Cubs" and the research theories on players the experts will all get together Monday night at the Cubby Bear on Addison in Chicago. It all starts at 6:30 ... the authors will take questions and perhaps give us a little insight into the upcoming season.