When I start reading about mirror neurons, I can’t help but think of the proverb… Tell me who you laugh with and I’ll tell you what you like. Throughout our lives, the phenomenon of imitation and mimicry is observed in different ways and expressions. The truth is yes. There are mirror neurons, capable of reproducing feelings or reactions that come from outside within us
Without going any further, the Bernabeu was a fine example of what a small wave of feelings of enthusiasm and ambition that Real Madrid fans and the team have spread to each other can mean. A force that Barcelona did not know how to neutralize in yesterday’s classics with a 3-1 score in favor of the Whites. But let’s go back to the beginning
From the activation that takes place in these neurons arises what we might call empathy and of course communication or contagion. Call it x, because you definitely understand me with those situations I’ve been through as well. For example, when I see a scene in a movie (a passionate embrace between the protagonists), I get the same feelings. The same thing happens to me when I see a natural disaster on TV and I am overwhelmed with putting myself in a place where the victims feel. I feel sad even though I am thousands of kilometers away and I don’t know them
Mirror neurons help us position ourselves. instead of. This is very important throughout our lives. Thanks to mirror neurons, what we might call emotional contagion occurs, a change in our emotional state that occurs as a result of the emotions conveyed by others
It is very important to note that this contagious force travels in both directions: towards the positive and towards the negative. Towards the positive when we are afflicted with illusion, kindness, energy and good feelings. Towards negativity is when we let ourselves get carried away in apathy, sadness, or mistrust
Neuroscience has shown that those who share relationship spaces, in any area (social, work, sports, etc.) also end up sharing the moods and emotions of the people around them thanks to them: mirror neurons. As a kind of synchronization force between who sends those signals and who receives them
I’ve experienced it myself from a first person perspective and with the athletes I’ve been working with throughout my career. I have seen many behaviors resulting from this exchange of emotions originating from the smallest neuron. Athletes who, in a given environment, replicate the situations and emotions generated outside. That is, in his team, in his coach, in his family environment. And you have to be careful: because if that environment does not have the necessary strength or determination, neither will the athlete
On the contrary, when a person or athlete is resolute, calm and enthusiastic, the same feelings will be conveyed to the rest of his teammates or team. When we say that “the team was thrown behind their back”, we are describing a similar situation in which the player’s attitude was key to modifying the confidence of the rest of the team, and thus, reversing the stalemate that could impede victory
When we share spaces, goals, etc., and realize the power our emotions have over others, we can break the vicious circles created by the same emotional contagion. The same is when we understand the power of others’ feelings of self
Mirror neurons are responsible for our ability to learn new skills by individual imitation (what we see in our teammates or coach) and, as mentioned before, to understand the actions, emotions and intentions of the people around us and not let ourselves fall for it. , for example, in case of anger (if you are interested, here you can read some keys to managing it)
The curious thing is that mirror neurons, in sports, as well as in life, don’t just “affect” us. It helps us anticipate actions thanks to the power of simulation that allows us to understand what and how the person in front of us will react before they do. For example, a goalkeeper can predict where a penalty kick will be taken
In short, a world of information, if we know how we can write it down and make it work for us
