The Brain of the College Athlete

Abstract:     
These remarks, presented at a 2012 DePaul symposium on college athletes, explore the link between rule infractions and the continuing development of students' brains. As the higher order mental functions -- including the ability to regulate emotions and respond to "hot" stimuli -- may not develop fully until the mid-20's, one explanation for why athletes violate NCAA rules for seemingly irrational reasons may have to with brain science. This could have implications for how universities counsel and communicate with student-athletes about compliance issues.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 5

Accepted Paper Series