Doctors’ Lounge
Ten Reasons Why Basketball is
Neurology
Robert P. Friedland, MD
I
n view of the prominence of Kentucky
basketball teams I thought that it would
be valuable to point out the neurological
basis of all basketball skills.
1. The force needed to throw the ball depends on assessment of
the weight of the ball and the motor resources available. The
brain evaluates the ball’s weight and through the activities of
the pyramidal and extrapyramidal motor systems calculates the
coordinated action of the legs, trunk, arms, hands and fingers
necessary to send the ball in the desired direction.
2. The force of gravity acts consistently on the ball throughout its
path. The brain calculates this unconsciously to determine how
high to throw the ball in order for it to end up in the basket.
This process involves procedural memory: the memory for
action, and not events.
3. The player determines the likelihood of the shot being blocked
and adjusts both the height of the shot and the force applied
to the ball, in regard to the height of the opponent and the
expected height of his or her outstretched arms at the point
the shot is released. This is a complex perceptual, attentional
and judgemental task.
4. The position of the player on the court is constantly monitored
by the player using all signals available (not only the position of
the basket.) Th H