The Foundations of Peak Brain Performance

By Louisa Nicola

In The Foundations of Peak Brain Performance, neurophysiologist, brain coach, and Neuro Athletics newsletter author Louisa Nicola discusses your brain and mental state in relationship to peak performance. Going beyond physical training and preparation, Nicola provides evidence-based guidance on how to keep your brain operating at the highest level possible using the same methods as elite athletes.

In the course, Nicola gives an overview of what’s going on in the brain, laying out the basic biology and functions of the brain; discusses the importance of hydration in ensuring a healthy and effective brain; how sunlight can give your brain a boost; and practical tips for enhancing brain performance. She also shares exercises along the way to help you put what you’ve learned into practice right away.

As scientifically rigorous and fascinating as it is accessible and practical, The Foundations of Peak Brain Performance is perfect for anyone looking to improve their cognitive performance — and understand the how and why at the same time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scribd Coach
• Release date: Feb 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094446424

Louisa Nicola

Louisa Nicola is a neurophysiologist currently based in New York, and a brain coach to elite athletes, CEOs, and investors. Nicola is also the author of the Neuro Athletics newsletter, distributed weekly to 40k high performers. To learn more about Nicola and her work, check out her newsletter at neuroathletics.substack.com, or listen to her Neuro Experience podcast.

Book preview

The Foundations of Peak Brain Performance

THE FOUNDATIONS OF PEAK BRAIN PERFORMANCE

LOUISA NICOLA

SCRIBD COACH

Copyright © 2023

All rights reserved

ISBN: 9781094446424

First e-book edition: March 2023

Scribd, Inc.

San Francisco, California

Scribd.com

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Introduction

Hello, and welcome to The Foundations of Peak Brain Performance, a course from Scribd Coach. I’m Louisa Nicola.

As a consultant for elite athletes, one of the questions I hear the most from clients is, How can I train my brain to perform faster?

This might seem surprising considering the fact that the clients asking me this question are professional players from organizations like the NBA, NFL, and MLS. Wouldn’t athletes at the top of their game have questions about the best cross-training drills or how to prevent injury?

But it makes far more sense than you may realize. This is a question that has come up with increasing frequency as the link between our mental state and ability to perform is better understood. As a neuroscientist and neuropsychologist, I teach athletes how to train their brains.

If this is a new concept for you, it might seem like your mental state shouldn’t have a strong relationship to your physical abilities. Maybe this theory is just a trendy piece of data that will be disproven tomorrow. But this link has been recognized for many years. We are only just now realizing how intertwined the two states are.

Research tells us that if you want to tap into your peak performance state, training goes far beyond simply getting your body into shape. You also need to understand what’s going on in your brain, which is the foundation for every action you take.

So, what does this look like practically? As an example, let’s take one of the most contentious athletic endeavors: running. While running has always been a popular source of exercise, there are many who dread it.

Why is that? Let’s think about it. What does it actually take to run? Running is basically a form of jumping. You are moving your feet in a set rhythm, constantly scanning the environment in front of you to see where your feet are about to land. Running is a full-body exercise, where your muscles are moving all at the same time. If you’re running outside, you need to understand and communicate to your body where