This was the title of a two-day Q+ workshop held in the summer semester 2024. The first day was all about sports science and neurobiology/-science. Dr. Manuel Bange and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schöllhorn first showed us the premises, the structure and an overview of the work of the Institute of Sports Science, took us through laboratories and offices and gave us insights into their neuroscience and movement science research. Among other things, they demonstrated an examination using electroencephalography (EEG), which measures and graphically displays the electrical activity of the brain, on a volunteer Q+ student. Electrical activity in the brain is caused by the transmission of stimuli and information from nerve cells in the cerebral cortex. Dr. Schöllhorn used another volunteer to explain how minimal external stimulation influences concentration and psyche and was thus able to draw conclusions about which areas of the participant's brain are activated when and how. On the basis of neuromedical and neuobiological analyses, Prof. Schöllhorn and his team are developing optimization training strategies that are used particularly in top-tier sport with the aim of enabling the last 1-3% increase in performance in those who are already highly trained.
The team work with top athletes from the German Olympic, World Cup and European Championship squads in various sports disciplines, as well as with various performance centers of German Bundesliga soccer clubs. Surprising findings from the first, very exciting Q+ workshop day were that the optimal and most effective increase in performance can be achieved particularly in the medium (and not the most active) brainwave frequency range, which can also be achieved with meditation techniques and through varied, very unusual (and not repetitive) movement sequences. Constant repetition has less effect in comparison. This was very enlightening for us and some of the Q+ participants will probably rethink their own learning and training methods in their studies and sports in the future.
Ute Bühler guided us to experiment with dance, in which we were to “feel” the music individually, in pairs or in threes, and then react physically in interaction with each other.
