Inside The Mind Of Inside The Mind Of Boston Bruins Goaltender Boston Bruins Goaltender

Tim ThomasTim Thomas

Practice Makes Perfect.Practice Makes Perfect.Tim Thomas has spent most of his life at the hockey Tim Thomas has spent most of his life at the hockey

rink. His years of practice have trained his mind rink. His years of practice have trained his mind to the point where his reactions are almost to the point where his reactions are almost involuntary. He sees a shot being taken from the involuntary. He sees a shot being taken from the point and it’s headed for the net at ninety miles point and it’s headed for the net at ninety miles per-hour. In this case he puts his glove out to per-hour. In this case he puts his glove out to make the save with the help of his cerebellum make the save with the help of his cerebellum along with his spinal chord. His cerebellum has along with his spinal chord. His cerebellum has stored memory of the movements that he needs stored memory of the movements that he needs to make saves and the spinal chord reacts.to make saves and the spinal chord reacts.

Frontal LobeFrontal Lobe

He uses his motor cortex when he He uses his motor cortex when he skates, like when he moves post to skates, like when he moves post to post. post.

When he is judging the direction of a When he is judging the direction of a shot he uses his frontal lobe to plan shot he uses his frontal lobe to plan his reaction. He also uses this to his reaction. He also uses this to communicate with his teammates.communicate with his teammates.

HippocampusHippocampus

Lets say that Tim Thomas gets Lets say that Tim Thomas gets scored on in a shootout against scored on in a shootout against Sidney Crosby. During this shootout Sidney Crosby. During this shootout Sidney dangles the puck and shoots Sidney dangles the puck and shoots for the upper right corner. Thomas for the upper right corner. Thomas stores this memory in his stores this memory in his hippocampus. Next time he faces hippocampus. Next time he faces Sidney the move may not work .Sidney the move may not work .

Parietal LobeParietal Lobe

The sensory cortex registers and The sensory cortex registers and processes body touch and movement processes body touch and movement sensations. Thomas feels the puck sensations. Thomas feels the puck deflect off his blocker as he makes deflect off his blocker as he makes the save.the save.

Occipital LobeOccipital Lobe

Vision registers in the occipital lobe. Vision registers in the occipital lobe. When there is traffic in front of the When there is traffic in front of the net, Tim Thomas’s occipital lobe net, Tim Thomas’s occipital lobe helps to focus on where the puck is.helps to focus on where the puck is.

Temporal LobeTemporal Lobe

The loud cheering of the crowd or the The loud cheering of the crowd or the sound of a buzzer/whistle is sound of a buzzer/whistle is registered in the temporal lobe. registered in the temporal lobe.

Reticular Formation and Reticular Formation and ThalamusThalamus

The reticular formation influences Thomas’ The reticular formation influences Thomas’ attention. It keeps him awake and alert attention. It keeps him awake and alert during the game. When opponents pass the during the game. When opponents pass the puck in his defensive zone he must have the puck in his defensive zone he must have the ability to follow the puck and position ability to follow the puck and position himself.himself.

Tim’s thalamus is very crucial to his ability Tim’s thalamus is very crucial to his ability to see, hear, taste, and touch. If he were to to see, hear, taste, and touch. If he were to damage his thalamus sensory information damage his thalamus sensory information would not be relayed to the cerebral cortex, would not be relayed to the cerebral cortex, leaving him deaf or blind. leaving him deaf or blind.