Reflexes and neuroscience: how your brain learns to react faster ?
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When we talk about reflexes, we often think about the speed of the hands or feet. Yet, the true command center of performance is located in the brain.
Every time an athlete intercepts a pass, catches a ball, or changes direction, their brain must analyze information, make a decision, and send a motor response in fractions of a second.
It is precisely this relationship between brain, vision, coordination and movement that is at the heart of neuroscience applied to sport.
Neuroscience in the service of athletic performance
For several years, Dr. Terry Lidarssi, Belgian entrepreneur and founder ofOduxio SRL, develops innovative solutions designed to improve the neuro-visual abilities of athletes.
Through the brands AnceFlex® And Formiball®, Its objective is simple:
👉 to make training methods inspired by neuroscience and used in elite sports accessible to the general public.
"A few minutes a day is enough to make progress, provided you train intelligently."
— Dr. Terry Lidarssi
Reflexes are not only physical
Before a movement is executed, the brain must:
👀 detect visual information
🧠 analyze it
⚙️ choose the correct answer
💪 activate the muscles involved
The speed of this process directly influences reaction time.
This is why modern neuroscience is as interested in the brain as it is in the physical abilities of athletes.
Why does unpredictability accelerate learning?
The brain learns more when faced with situations it cannot anticipate.
The most effective exercises often include:
- changes in direction,
- visual stimuli,
- rapid decision-making,
- unpredictable trajectories.
This variability stimulates what neuroscientists call the brain plasticity, that is, the brain's ability to create and strengthen new neural connections.
When color becomes information
The Formiball allows you to associate a different action with each color:
🔴 left hand or left foot
🔵 right hand or right foot
🟢 two hands or two feet
The brain must then identify the visual stimulus and select the correct motor response in a very short time.
This type of training simultaneously engages:
- attention,
- concentration,
- coordination,
- working memory,
- decision-making.
The unpredictable rebound: a challenge for the brain
The distinctive feature of the Formiball is its intentionally irregular bounce.
With each impact, the trajectory can vary slightly.
This unpredictability forces the brain to:
- stay alert,
- recalculate the trajectory,
- adjust the movements,
- make a quick decision.
The result: a fun workout that naturally stimulates the brain mechanisms involved in reflexes.
Pleasure: a learning accelerator
Neuroscience also shows that the brain learns better when it is having fun.
Playful activities promote the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in motivation and learning.
That's why a few minutes of active play can sometimes be more effective than a long, repetitive session.
🇧🇪 Formiball: an approach inspired by neuroscience
Developed in Belgium by Oduxio SRL under the impetus of Dr Terry Lidarssi, Formiball was designed to make reflex training simple, accessible and fun.
Thanks to its bright colors, kinetic energy activation and unpredictable rebound, it allows for simultaneous stimulation of the brain and body.
👉 Because improving your reflexes always starts with training your brain.