Discover how sensory concordance influences physical performance and how to optimize training with a neuro-performance approach.
Welcome to this episode of the neuro quarter-hour, dedicated today to a fundamental concept in applied neuroscience to movement: sensory concordance and non-concordance. This topic, often discussed in our practical training sessions, is essential for any coach looking to optimize training efficiency.
The human brain relies on three major sensory systems, often compared to "GPS": the proprioceptive (awareness of the body in space), visual, and vestibular (balance and head movement). For optimal integration and maximum performance, it is imperative that these systems provide clear, understandable, and above all, concordant information to the brain.
Sensory concordance means that the information from our different "GPS" is coherent and harmonious. When this information diverges, we refer to it as sensory non-concordance. Imagine a car GPS where each satellite emits different data: you would be lost and slow down to decipher the situation. This is somewhat what happens in our bodies.
The most striking example of non-concordance is motion sickness, where vestibular information (movement) often contradicts visual information. This dissonance creates a "threat" to the brain, pushing it to prioritize survival over performance. The result: a decrease in productivity, coordination, and speed as the brain unconsciously puts on the "handbrake".
In the field of physical preparation, even if non-concordances are not as extreme as motion sickness, they can exist. A mismatch between the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems can lead to a significant performance hindrance, manifesting as a decrease in strength, mobility, or other physical capabilities.
The goal of the neuro-performance approach is to identify these sensory "mismatches". By specifically working on the disagreeing systems through targeted exercises, we allow the brain to receive more concordant information. This reduces the perception of threat, enabling it to "let go" and access increased performance potential.
It is crucial to understand that there is a hierarchy in the importance of sensory information. For example, the proprioceptive system accounts for about 20 to 30% of the information that reaches the brain, while the visual and vestibular systems (roughly on the same level as proprioception, or even slightly above) provide a much more significant share.
This means that focusing solely on proprioception, as is often the case in traditional training, targets only a fraction of the maximum potential of sensory inputs. For sustainable and optimal results, it is essential to address issues across all systems: vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive. Training that integrates all these dimensions allows for objective gains in each area, leading to an overall improvement in performance. Ignoring this hierarchy may explain why some training results do not hold up over the long term: an under-stimulated and unoptimized system risks reinterpreting information, leading to readjustments and a decrease in performance.
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