Brain researchers claim football star Neymar plays 'on autopilot'
eymar of Brazil controls the ball during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Quarter Final match between Brazil and Colombia. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Getty
Neuroscientists studying Brazilian footballer Neymar have claimed that he plays on ‘autopilot’, after brain scans showed that he uses 10 per cent less brain activity than an amateur player while on the pitch.
Researchers from Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology took brain scans of Neymar and several other professional athletes in February.
Their findings, which were published in academic journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, showed that Neymar utilised less brain function to control his physical movements than the average beginner player.
“Reduced brain activity means less burden which allows (Neymar) to perform many complex movements at once,” research Eiichi Naito said.
“We believe this gives him the ability to execute his various shimmies.”
Neymar carried the hopes of host nation Brazil on his shoulders at the 2014 World Cup, before being ruled out of the semi-final after suffering fractured vertebrae in his team’s 2-1 victory over Colombia.
Source: ABC
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