The main function of our brain is to survive. When skiing, we constantly assess the environment and detect its conditions, analyze whether the stimuli captured are dangerous or harmless, and, accordingly, move away or approach as our emotions are of fear or pleasure. These characteristics directly influence our learning.
Our skill, in addition to being something physically observable, is knowledge archived in our brain through neural networks. Skiing on bumps, descending a slalom course, or making turns on an easy slope have their own neural nets. For our brain, skiing is a large group of neural networks. For example, the neural network in our memory is connected to the neural network of our motor area to generate the necessary movements, and depends on how consolidated this network is that we will ski without considering the actions we perform or, on the contrary, we will need to pay attention to every move.
When viewing a new slope to descend, the neural networks of our visual cortex are activated along with those of our memory of having descended a similar slope, and those of our motor cortex. Our brain can predict the actions to be executed before we descend the new slope and this will help us to expand our neural networks.
Neuronal learning
In combination with neuropsychology, neuronal learning is oriented to explain the functioning of our brain in learning processes, which are now beginning to be considered by ski instructors and trainers. But these processes have always been in the brain of every recreational skier and every athlete during memory consolidation, considering it as the ability to acquire, use, and retain a motor experience.
Learning to ski depends on the interactions between our inner world (the brain, the nervous system, and the emotions) and the outside world (the environment). Through concrete experiences, we incorporate information from the outside world and, through brain processes, we express them with our actions. We learn from the outside in and from the inside out (Zull, 2002).
Learning to ski better changes not only our body but also our brain, and we consider learning as the art of modifying our neural networks. This process is comparable to tuning an FM radio station. At the beginning, there will be ‘interferences’, such as emotions of fear about the slope or anxiety while believing that we cannot control our speed. This is because at each attempt, and simultaneously with those appropriate for such movement or action, collateral neurons are triggered. Thus, different sensations and feelings are generated until we find the right ‘tuning’: our neural network begins to consolidate by repeating what we just have learned.
If we have consolidated neural networks due to the practice of, for example, water skiing or roller blading, we will connect them and form the basis for a new neural network of alpine skiing. In addition, biomechanical analogies will be useful for connecting two neural networks: that of the analogy, which is already established, and the new one that is forming, so both networks will be associated when firing at the same time.
Talking about errors or showing them frequently consolidate the neural network of the wrong execution, so it is preferable to always orient ourselves to the appropriate movement. This will generate and strengthen the new neural network from what we want to learn, that is, the right repetition is the best way to consolidate a ‘blemish-free’ neural network.
According to sleep scientists, dreaming would make our neural connections easier. An important part of learning occurs when we sleep. Sleep brain waves are indicators that our brain is synthesizing information received during the day.
Our previous knowledge networks and skills are deep and resilient, so it takes time to modify them, but thanks to brain research, it will help us to figure out what happens when we ski. All the aspects that form our skiing behavior come from something physical that is our brain mechanisms. By understanding this, instructors and coaches get a different look at their students and athletes, recognizing why they act in a certain way rather than just judging and evaluating them, and this predisposition makes them better teachers/trainers.
So, to change the way we ski and improve our performance, we must modify our neural networks, make them stronger, generate different ones, or stop using inefficient ones. What is evident is that if there are no changes in our neural networks, there is no learning, and if there is no learning, our performance stagnates.
Mirror neurons and learning
Mirror neurons are a type of brain cells that activate when we observe another skier execute the same action we are executing. These neurons are studied by their intervention in imitation learning.
There are mirror neurons that fire at precision movements, and others that do so during the observation of generic movements. There is also evidence that they are fired not only by visual stimulus but also by an auditory one that accompanies the observed action. In addition, these neurons not only trigger by observing and mimicking the actions of others; it has been proposed that they could also fire in anticipating such actions.
According to fMRI studies in ballet and capoeira dancers, the activity of mirror neurons of ballet dancers was greater when they observed ballet than when they watched capoeira dance. The same increase in the mirror neural system occurred when capoeira dancers watched capoeira dance. This means that when we observe other skiers executing the same activity, the intensity of our mirror neurons increases.
The close relationship between language and mirror neurons is due to the proximity of the language area and the display area of motor tasks, which would indicate that the mirror neuron system would be related to the language area. Therefore, it is assumed that using a ski specific language activates the visualization of the movement or action to which the term refers.
The neural consolidation of learning
Our neural consolidation of learning could be paragoned with building a road.
- First, there is a road construction machine (initial attempt to execute skiing movements and actions and the starting of a specific neural network) that removes obstacles and creates a rudimentary pathway with certain irregularities (initial learning interferences due to diffuse sensory information along with generalized emotions and feelings).
- Next, other machines’ passing (subsequent actions’ executions) flattens the road’s surface while reducing irregularities. The track becomes smoother and more travelable (neural networks are amplified and have greater consistency due to the consolidation of executions).
- The continuous passing of specific road machines (the continuous practice of more precise movements and actions) compacts the way and facilitates, even more, the traffic, allowing a more controlled and faster driving (cell networks are strengthened by increasing their speed transmission).
- When the asphalt layer (myelin) is then placed, only then vehicles (nerve impulses) can travel faster and connect to other road networks (neural networks communicate at higher speed and expand by connecting with other networks).
