After my post yesterday about ‘The Silent Struggle of College Pitchers: When Pitchers Sacrifice Comfort to Fit In!’, I had a healthy and thought-provoking discussion with people who are very physics- and biomechanical-driven. They emphasized the necessity of understanding biomechanics and the importance of that foundation.

However, my follow-up question to them was this:

What about the influence of the brain? Where do the cognitive and emotional aspects of a person come into play during performance—or do they have no impact at all on movement patterns?

It’s hard to ignore the role of the brain in coordinating movement, processing feedback, and making split-second adjustments.

After all, every motion we make is guided by neural pathways, shaped by past experiences, emotions, and even stress levels. Could it be that traditional biomechanics often overlook this connection?

While focusing purely on physical mechanics, we might be missing the bigger picture—the interaction between the body and the mind.

Cognition and emotions can affect timing, rhythm, and decision-making, especially under pressure. Confidence, fear, or even mental fatigue can influence how a movement is executed, sometimes amplifying or restricting physical potential.

For instance, we’ve all seen athletes who seem technically perfect in practice but struggle under game-day pressure. Why is that? It’s not just mechanics—it’s the brain at work.

So, if we only analyze movement through the lens of physics, aren’t we leaving out a huge piece of the puzzle? Maybe the real key to unlocking performance isn’t just refining mechanics but also understanding how the brain and emotions shape those mechanics in real-time.

Instead of treating the body and brain as separate systems, perhaps it’s time to embrace their interdependence. By integrating cognitive and emotional factors into training and analysis, we could better support athletes in reaching their full potential—not just physically, but as complete performers.