Neuro-Juggling & Embodied Cognition

Neuro-Juggling & Embodied Cognition

Juggling is an ancient acrobatic art which trains the brain. It specifically harmonizes/synchronizes neurological processes across both cerebral hemispheres of the brain. It is a great antidote against the “hyper-technologisation” in today’s digital culture in which human beings regularly sit motionless in front of screens and watch displays for long periods of time. Juggling can thus be utilised to counterbalance the effects of a hyper-technological lifestyle. Juggling can be seen as a holistic way to train the mind-body complex (cf. embodied cognition) and to enhance functional connectivity between various brain regions.

Juggling has numerous significant neurocognitive effects:

  • Proprioception and coordination of movements
  • Improves self-control and trains prefronatal executive functions
  • Mental rotation
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Multitasking
  • Improves cognitive performance in reaction time tasks
  • Improves attentional mechanisms
  • Neuroplasticity (i.e., juggling creates novel neuronal circuits in the brain)
  • Improves concentration and focus
  • Trains rhythmic movement
  • Improves gaze-control and occular-fixation
  • Harmonization of neuronal processes across the cerebral hemispheres (corpus callosum)
  • Positive emotions, creativity, and self-expression

Cerebral hemispheres of the brain

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Fiber_tracts_from_six_segments_of_the_corpus_callosum.gif

Tracts of the corpus callosum connecting both cerebral hemispheres

Human motor cortex.jpg

The human motor cortex

Further References

Beek, P. J., & Turvey, M. T.. (1992). Temporal Patterning in Cascade Juggling. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1037/0096-1523.18.4.934
DOI URL
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Behrends, E.. (2006). The mathematics of juggling. The Mathematical Intelligencer

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1007/BF02987166
DOI URL
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Boyke, J., Driemeyer, J., Gaser, C., Buchel, C., & May, A.. (2008). Training-Induced Brain Structure Changes in the Elderly. Journal of Neuroscience

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0742-08.2008
DOI URL
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Carius, D., Andrä, C., Clauß, M., Ragert, P., Bunk, M., & Mehnert, J.. (2016). Hemodynamic Response Alteration As a Function of Task Complexity and Expertise—An fNIRS Study in Jugglers. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Plain numerical DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00126
DOI URL
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Chan, J. S. Y., Luo, Y., Yan, J. H., Cai, L., & Peng, K.. (2015). Children’s age modulates the effect of part and whole practice in motor learning. Human Movement Science

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2015.06.002
DOI URL
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Dessing, J. C., Rey, F. P., & Beek, P. J.. (2012). Gaze fixation improves the stability of expert juggling. Experimental Brain Research

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1007/s00221-011-2967-6
DOI URL
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Draganski, B., Gaser, C., Busch, V., Schuierer, G., Bogdahn, U., & May, A.. (2004). Neuroplasticity: Changes in grey matter induced by training. Nature

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1038/427311a
DOI URL
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Haibach, P. S., Daniels, G. L., & Newell, K. M.. (2004). Coordination changes in the early stages of learning to cascade juggle. Human Movement Science

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2004.07.002
DOI URL
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Juravle, G., & Spence, C.. (2011). Juggling reveals a decisional component to tactile suppression. Experimental Brain Research

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1007/s00221-011-2780-2
DOI URL
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Lehmann, J., & Jansen, P.. (2012). The influence of juggling on mental rotation performance in children with spina bifida. Brain and Cognition

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2012.07.004
DOI URL
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Leroy, D., Thouvarecq, R., & Gautier, G.. (2008). Postural organisation during cascade juggling: Influence of expertise. Gait and Posture

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2007.12.071
DOI URL
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McKenzie, I. A., Ohayon, D., Li, H., De Faria, J. P., Emery, B., Tohyama, K., & Richardson, W. D.. (2014). Motor skill learning requires active central myelination. Science

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1126/science.1254960
DOI URL
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Morita, Y., Ogawa, K., & Uchida, S.. (2016). Napping after complex motor learning enhances juggling performance. Sleep Science

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1016/j.slsci.2016.04.002
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Nakahara, T., Nakahara, K., Uehara, M., Koyama, K. I., Li, K., Harada, T., … Inui, A.. (2007). Effect of juggling therapy on anxiety disorders in female patients. BioPsychoSocial Medicine

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1186/1751-0759-1-10
DOI URL
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Post, A. A., Daffertshofer, A., & Beek, P. J.. (2000). Principal components in three-ball cascade juggling. Biological Cybernetics

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1007/PL00007966
DOI URL
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Schaal, S., Atkeson, C. G., & Sternad, D.. (1996). One-Handed Juggling: A Dynamical Approach to a Rhythmic Movement Task. Journal of Motor Behavior

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1080/00222895.1996.9941743
DOI URL
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Voelcker-Rehage, C., & Willimczik, K.. (2006). Motor plasticity in a juggling task in older adults – A developmental study. Age and Ageing

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afl025
DOI URL
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Zainaldeen, M. H., Hasan, N. E., Ahmed Ali, F. A. H., Altahoo, H. S., Rashid-Doubell, F., & Fredericks, S.. (2018). The influence of ball-juggling on emotional states, blood pressure and sleep-quality among medical students during end-of-year exam preparation. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.12.004
DOI URL
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Zentgraf, K., & Munzert, J.. (2009). Effects of attentional-focus instructions on movement kinematics. Psychology of Sport and Exercise

Plain numerical DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.01.006
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