Think golf is (1) game Think again. Researchers including Debbie Crews of Arizona State University and John Milton of the University of Chicago have been studying patterns of brain activation in golfers. Their conclusion: the better the golfer, the (2) he shows in the seconds before he (3) .
Crews, a (4) who studies putting, has found that a (5) between amateurs and professionals lies in the (6) , the seat of logic, analysis, (7) and the kinds of thoughts. Professionals, once (8) how to make a shot, follow an (9) that renders conscious thought unnecessary.
When Milton asked some LPGA golfers what they thought about just before (10) , they answered: nothing. He (11) a half-dozen pros and an equal number of amateurs and had them imagine making a specific shot while (12) in a functional MRI machine. The amateurs showed far more total brain activation (13) of the brain. In particular, amateurs activated the basal ganglia—involved in learning motor functions—and the basal forebrain and amygdale, responsible for, (14) , emotions. Some of his (15) worried about hitting the ball into the water, which was curious, because he hadn’t even (16) in describing the imaginary shot to them.
Milton is trying to (17) to stroke and other rehabilitation patients who have to (18) like walking; he recommends putting more (19) and improving mental focus. In many (20) , it seems, half the game really is 90 percent mental.