The more the subjects consciously thought during the game, the worse their performance became. He also found that as the subjects improved their skills, brain activity actually lessened. In other words, the more skill his subjects brought to the task, the more efficiently their brains worked. Buchsbaum's research also indicated that while increasing proficiency led to an overall decrease in brain activity, there was an increase in activity in the visual cortex, that part of our brain that processes visual imagery-the feedback and information we see. Buchsbaum concluded that his subjects were able to process more visual information as they thought less about how to use and apply their skills.
Optimal performance is achieved when athletes are in a perceiving rather than judging mode.
So, in essence, greater ownership of skills allows us to shift our attention away from the past or future analysis of the application of our skills and focus on what is presently happening. This shift to autopilot may be what gives the zone such a surreal and dreamlike quality as well. The events flow through your mind without being tagged with descriptions, reasons, criticisms, and constant analysis. You are virtually unaware of thoughts expressed verbally, thus recounting the experience and defining it with words becomes difficult and elusive, making it feel like a dream. The process is relatively simple but not easy.