How tennis gives your brain a boost

Physical activity doesn’t just strengthen your muscles; it also helps fortify cognition. And tennis—which often involves strategic, rapid-fire decision making—is uniquely strong in this regard. We spoke with Dr. Richard Mayeux, the neurologist-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center about why the sport provides such a boost to your brain.

How might specifically playing tennis—as opposed to other sports—positively affect cognitive function and brain health?

DR. MAYEUX: Repeated challenges in planning and implementing a task are demanding of our physical and mental abilities. While these challenges are common in many sports, few require the attention, reaction time, split-second planning of movements and motor control required in tennis. Understanding where you will receive the ball on the court and how you will manage your response requires coordination, cognitive flexibility and experience. Rapid decision making, strategy and visuospatial coordination are also some of the keys to playing tennis.

What are some of the other neurological benefits of playing tennis over time?

DR. MAYEUX: Beyond enhancing hand-eye coordination, playing tennis regularly engages the brain’s frontal lobe by strengthening executive or sequential planning functions. The premotor cortex and the motor cortex are necessary to plan the subsequent actions needed to serve, return or volley. Tennis keeps the attention span alert, requiring constant mental engagement. Players must remember complex motor sequences and anticipate their opponent's movements while focusing on the current rally. 

Studies on children have shown that longer tennis training is associated with better working memory and cognitive flexibility. This ‘motor’ memory differs from ‘regular’ memory, which is like if you needed to recall the names of past presidents. We use motor memory to learn to ride a bicycle. It takes a while to learn to ride a bike, but once the motor memory is solidified in the brain, we can ride anytime we are on a bike. It’s the same for tennis. The grip, the positioning of the racket, the follow through on strokes…these are all learned motor memories. The longer one plays the sport, the more consolidated and familiar these motor memories become. 

Tennis can also present some mental hurdles. Sometimes athletes struggle to access their best form during a match no matter how much they’ve practiced. What are some methods, exercises or tactics for better handling the stresses and pressures associated with competition? How can players develop stronger mental resilience when things aren’t going their way?

DR. MAYEUX: Starting with a positive attitude, even against a better opponent, can build self-confidence and enjoyment of the game. After all, it is a game of skill, and you cannot always expect to win. It is easy to start a negative internal dialogue when you make a self-inflicted mistake. However, replacing negative thoughts with positive self-coaching can help athletes develop resilience in reaction to such an error. Additionally, mentally rehearsing each shot—the serve, the return and the volley—can activate neural pathways, activating muscle memory. Visualizing successful outcomes, or even practice coping with unexpected challenges, can ultimately build resilience. And then relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or bouncing the ball before the serve, can help athletes take charge of a demanding or stressful situation. It allows the athlete to reimagine the challenge as a manageable opportunity and reduce the likelihood of "choking" under pressure.

To what degree does the social aspect of tennis impact the overall benefits of tennis on your brain’s health?

DR. MAYEUX: Maintaining relationships and finding new ones are vital for a well-rounded and full life. [Building that network around tennis] also means you're adopting health behaviors, regularly exercising and reducing stress [in the process]. 

What else should players know about the sport and overall brain health?

DR. MAYEUX: What is good for the heart is good for the brain! Tennis is a lifestyle choice that involves regular exercise and can lead to better habits, like a healthier diet. Those habits can improve heart health, and as a result, the sport can reduce the risk of cognitive decline.