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  • The Performance Cortex

  • How Neuroscience Is Redefining Athletic Genius
  • Written by: Zach Schonbrun
  • Narrated by: Thomas Vincent Kelly
  • Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (9 ratings)

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The Performance Cortex

Written by: Zach Schonbrun
Narrated by: Thomas Vincent Kelly
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Publisher's Summary

Athletic genius explained. A groundbreaking new perspective on the science of elite sporting performance.

Why couldn't Michael Jordan, master athlete that he was, hit a baseball? Why can't modern robotics come close to replicating the dexterity of a five-year-old? Why do good quarterbacks always seem to know where their receivers are?

In this deeply researched book, sports and business reporter Zach Schonbrun explores what actually drives human movement and its spectacular potential. The groundbreaking work of two neuroscientists in Major League Baseball is only the beginning. Schonbrun traces the fascinating history of motor research and details how new investigations in the brain are helping explain the extraordinary skills of talented performers like Stephen Curry, Tom Brady, Serena Williams, and Lionel Messi; as well as musical virtuosos, dancers, rock climbers, race-car drivers, and more.

Whether it is timing a 95-mph fastball or reaching for a coffee mug, movement requires extraordinary computation that many take for granted - until now. The Performance Cortex ushers in a new way of thinking about the athletic gifts we strain to see in our cavernous arenas. It's not about the million-dollar arm anymore. It's about the million-dollar brain.

Includes a bonus PDF with charts and graphs.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Zach Schonbrun (P)2018 Penguin Audio

What the critics say

“A must-read for the cerebral sports fan . . . like Moneyball except nerdier. Much nerdier.” (Sports Illustrated)

“Fans of sport science, sport psychology, robotics, and neuroscience will find this to be informative and inspiring.” (Library Journal)

“A revealing tour of the minds of winning athletes . . . Readers interested in the applications of neuroscience to everyday life will find plenty of value here.” (Kirkus Reviews)

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  • Cal
  • 2021-05-28

A First Of Its Kind

There's some great content in this book and the story flows decently well. As someone who is very interested in the brain and the corresponding science in sport- I really enjoyed it. I listened then bought the physical copy for a read, so I've read it twice as of this review. It elaborates on some technology that is likely to become more and more prominent in professional sports, essentially ways of determining a player's abilities by analysing their brain. I was less interested in that and more interested in general information on how the brain controls motor functions/ how we learn and execute movements. I'm a full time coach so for me it was great. It's piqued my interest of neuroscience and it's relation to sport even more- if that's possible!

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