GABA, FOCUS and Neurotransmitters Blocking out Distractions

[Dr Ray]

Focus is more than concentration and paying attention.

There is much going on inside your brain you want to know about -
taking some of the mystery out of the focusing process.

I will make it easy on myself and take a section from Teeing Off With
The Masters: Making Winning Moments Your Way of Life

TEEING OFF

So, the Master's are cool, is that the picture, Doc?

That's right, Charlie. Great concentration, or ability to keep your
mind riveted on the bulls-eye, is a function of how well you've
learned to block out distractions.

Are you saying, Doc, ability to focus is determined by my ability to
attend to the right cues in a specific situation?

That's precisely what I am saying! Too often, people try to 'block
out irrelevant cues' following advice like, "Don't pay attention to
the Gallery". This makes you think about the gallery, when you should
be attending to cues in the environment directly relevant to your next
shot. Arnold Palmer said it well. "It's vital to play your game
according to exactly where you are, and what the impact of wind,
weather, grass, and climate is."

That's obviously important, Doc, but how do I develop my ability to
pay attention to relevant cues?

It's all about practice, Charlie.

How does practice help me develop my ability to be focused on
specific, relevant cues in the environment?

That's a great question. You're right on the money. Built into your
nervous system is a special ability to block out unimportant
sensations. Our nerve cells secrete a specific neurotransmitter
called GABA, which is short for gamma amino butyric acid. GABA is
released into your system when you become immersed in some specific
activity. GABA helps reduce responsiveness to stimuli you don't need
to attend to.

You mean, GABA helps maintain focus by desensitizing me to certain
aspects of my surroundings?

It does, Charlie. Simply put, GABA blocks out distractions.

How do I get better at this?

Release of GABA is a learned response. As a child, you had a short,
easily distracted attention span. As you matured, ability to secrete
GABA increased with practice and you became better at focusing on the
skills you wanted to acquire.

That's incredible, Doc. Who would have thought ability to focus on
the bulls-eye is something I can learn and it actually takes place in
my brain. This certainly takes some of the mystery out of the
focusing process.

Arnie really backs this up, Doc. He said, "The most salient and
significant question you can ask yourself, in starting to think
through your game of boldness is: Where am I?" He said, "Don't laugh
- the wrong answer can lead to weeping and gnashing of teeth. For the
game must be and is played to the particular conditions that affect
the region in which you are playing."

Back to the purpose of this Post:

Focus is a process and it can be learned through practice. Knowing
this can be a big help in all aspects of your life, on and off the
course.

I say it everyday: FOCUS IS EVERYTHING !

I suspect some Group Members will want more clarity on this subject.
As always, Post your comment or e-mail me, whichever works best.

Dr. Ray