The Neurosurgeon as a High-Performance Athlete? Parallels and Lessons Learned from Sports Psychology

BACKGROUND: Top performing neurosurgeons and elite athletes require years of sacrifice, discipline, and dedication to their art to be finely attuned to their physical abilities and limitations, and a singular mental focus to reach their full potential under moments of pressure. METHODS: We outline strategies and techniques commonly used by high-performance athletes and how they may be applied to neurosurgery to achieve the highest possible surgeon preparation, patient outcomes, and career longevity. RESULTS: Further investigation and integration of well-established cognitive psychology applications to surgical performance is needed. These principles are broad-reaching and may be applied to the training of our residents, our own daily routine, and as a life philosophy to enhance the longevity of our careers. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining peak performance for a neurosurgeon may prove to be more challenging than that of the elite athlete.