Anthony Pluta III
Predicting Effectivenss of Baseball Hitters
Pilot research for my thesis is underway. The idea of my thesis is to be able to predict the effectiveness of a baseball hitter prior to game time. This will happen by having each hitter wear a portable EEG device made by Muse. While wearing the device players will be asked to play a simple video game on a tablet while the EEG measures brainwaves. I am hoping to prove that there is a coorelation between background brain activity and the effectiveness a baseball hitter. Effectiveness will be judged by a players form, success of the hit and strength of the hit. I am basing my hypothesis on research done by Mathewson, K., Basak, C., Maclin, E., Low, K., Boot, W., Kramer, A., . . . Gratton, G. (2012). Different slopes for different folks: Alpha and delta EEG power. Psychophysiology, 49, 1558–1570.
Finished Thesis on CBC's "Quirks and Quarks"
Scientists at the University of Victoria have been able to determine that you really can over think the game of baseball. In an experiment, more than 60 young, accomplished batters were fitted with a portable EEG device before they approached the plate.
Anthony Pluta, a former professional baseball pitcher, and a graduate student in the University's Neuroeconomics Lab, was able to see which type and range of brain wave coincided with a successful at-bat. The study found that when a batter's brain was in the higher beta range, a frequency associated with concentration and focus, the player was not so successful. However, when a batter's brain was in the lower beta range, a frequency associated with a more relaxed state, the player had greater success.
This research reinforces the notion that you really can over think things, in this case an at-bat in baseball. It is possible that in the future, such a device could be used during a game to help a manager identify which player or players are in the so-called 'zone' prior to going to bat.