This document summarizes the neurobiology of a boxer's nervous system. It describes how the visual system works during boxing matches as opponents move in close or run to the side of the ring. It also discusses how the primary motor cortex and reflexes allow boxers to throw punches and evade hits without conscious thought. The document notes that boxing skills are developed through practice and operational learning in the parietal lobe and cerebellum. Potential injuries from boxing like subdural hematomas and memory loss are also outlined.

1. NEUROBIOLOGY
OF A BOXER
JD Ye

2. General Nervous System
Nervous System
Peripheral
Central
Somatic Autonomic Brain and Spinal Cord

3. Near and Far vision (Accomodation)
■ When the opponent is near, he/she appears large in
the field of vision, and the eye receives light from wide
angles. When moving focus from a distant to a near
object, the eyes converge. The ciliary muscle contracts
making the lens more convex, shortening its focal
length. The converse occurs for far vision (when
opponent runs to side of the ring)
■ The retina captures the light rays, which are sent through
the optic nerve, which is part of the central nervous
system, through the optic chiasm, thalamus, and into the
visual cortices of the occipital lobes at the back of the
brain. Perception then occurs.
Vestibuloocular Reflex helps to
keep boxer’s gaze focused

4. Primary Motor Cortex
■ Every action (boxing) activates the primary motor
cortex, which sends signals to the muscles through
the spinal chord and motor neurons in order for them
to contract/relax.
■ Sometimes, actions can also occur as a result
of a reflex, where signals are transmitted from
sensory neurons directly to motor neurons through
synapses without ever reaching the brain. For
example, when boxer opponent punches your knee,
you immediately move your knee away. Same goes
for getting punched, you immediately evade without
conscious thought.
Efference Copy and sensory
reafference
Dopamine inhibitor to restrict
certain movement to give agility
of boxer

5. Conscious VS reflex
Conscious thoughts take place in the frontal areas of brain –(cerebrum, cerebellum)
– which are in charge of complex or executive functions such as strategic thinking
and decision making.
■ Reflex actions, such as blinking, breathing, swallowing, etc., are regulated by
the autonomic nervous system and controlled by the medulla oblongata.

6. Operational Learning/Fast Learning
Many of the boxing actions that we are able to perform unconsciously are far more
complex than that. In fact, they even start out as conscious actions when we first
learn how to do them, but through practice and repetition we are able to get better
at them until they come out naturally.
These actions are planned and processed by the parietal lobe and cerebellum
without the need to involve the frontal lobes.
Also, many of the boxing movements are chunked together through operational
learning, they become habits through continuous practice.

7. Problems/injuries with Boxing
■ Subdural Hematoma, a rupturing of the veins between the brain and the skull,
and Cerebral Edema, a buildup of water in the brain, leading to a buildup of
intracranial pressure, which can lead to more severe vessel rupturing and
affecting the blood flow to the brain.
■ Brief loss of short-term memory (due to blunt force trauma) (hippocampus)

8. Ways in which this course has allowed
me to better analyze the events and
phenomena around me
■ As a biology student, I have understood more about the complex workings of
our wonderful brain. Professor Peggy’s class has delved in depth about the
small things that come together to make our brain tick, and has inspired me into
proposing new theories and experimenting to solve the next few mysteries of
our nervous system, and finally one day being able to understand the way our
mind perceives emotions such as love and HOW our brain actually provides
them its meaning.
■ The course has provided new perspectives into the inner functionings of the
brain, and also new insights into things which we never used to observe closely
for ourselves, but which are happening behind closed windows in our skull.