Spot the difference?
Anyone? Begins with B?
"The Central Governor Model - says that the brain regulates performance in anticipation to make sure that you don’t harm your body"
The Central Governor Theory. Or, Why We Stop?
Spot the Difference?
Spot the difference between the two diagrams pictured above? Those of you who plumped for 'the brain' get points but no prizes. A Nobel Prize may however await the person who can explain and prove why the brain is important in any explanation as to how we fatigue. The old model on the left presumes that physical exhaustion is wholly due to ischemia (restriction of blood/oxygen) in the heart, that in turn manifests as a lack of oxygen in the muscles. This is the body's autocue to cease strenuous exertions, in order to bring the body back into a state of homeostasis or balanced equilibrium.
Brainless
This model held for many decades until Professor Tim Noakes - a medical doctor professor of sports physiology, decided it needed a refresh - I am being too polite - actually he said:
"The cardinal weakness of this model is that it is brainless. It allows no role for the brain in the regulation of exercise performance."
Err, ouch.
This will be the substantive enquiry of our talk with Dr Dr Mark Kirkman.
Look at the clip below of Dr Kirkman running a Vo2 test on Warrick Spence - what makes him stop?
"The cardinal weakness of this model is that it is brainless. It allows no role for the brain in the regulation of exercise performance"
Dr Kirkman & early lab-rat Warrick Spence
What a Vo2 of 82 looks like in a race situation
"Coaching is 20% the application of the latest science & data. And 80% excellent communication"
Central Governor Theory - The Panel
Dr Mark Kirkman
PhD in in Exercise Science (Sports Physiology) - University of Cape Town Sports Medicine.
We have known and worked with Mark on and off for nearly twenty years. As well as an unsurpassed knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics, Mark's coaching philosophy works very well for many clients.
"Coaching is 20% the application of the latest science & data. And 80% excellent communication - we have to understand our athlete's intellectually and emotionally, in order to illicit the best training and competition response. We must be their sporting advocates,"
Mark studied under Professor Tim Noakes for many years as one of his PhD students.
Important to say Mark is not defending or supporting Central Governor Theory. But as a former student of Prof Tim Noakes, Mark is best placed to explain it to us for the purposes of the evening's talk.
Dr Jon Baker
We have worked with Dr Jon Baker for almost ten years. Former academic/scientist, Jon is one the select few who are considered to be working at the highest World Tour level, needed for grand-tour victory. Jon gave a very popular Cyclefit Midlife Cyclist Talk at Rapha in 2023. Jon contributed to The Midlife Cyclist.
Dr Nigel Stephens
Dr Stephens is Cyclefit's most popular speaker. A perennial favourite whose talks always sell out in hours. Nigel is a consultant cardiologist and former European track champion.
Nigel worked with Professor Greg Whyte to devise and provide sports cardiology services at Olympic Medical Institute, when it was based at Northwick Park NHS Hospital.
"Most of us think along straight lines, like a bus or a tram - and this applies to scientific researchers who should know better."
Dr Mark Kirkman (Performance Polymath)
Dr Jon Baker (Performance Physiologist)
Dr Nigel Stephens (Consultant Cardiologist)
Central Governor Theory - What Makes Us Stop?
An evening talking about Central Governor Theory
Doors open at 18.30 and the talk starts at 19:00
Rapha London Clubhouse - 85 Brewer St, London, W1F 9ZN
Book Beyond The Limits
The Cycling Addiction Series
The Cycling Addiction Series at Rapha
Book Talk
A Cyclefit Talk Series - Supported by Rapha and Bloomsbury Publishing