TOKYO What makes world-class athletes like those who participate in the Olympics or World Cup soccer different from the rest of us? For most people, the first answer that likely comes to mind is either physical traits -- amount of muscle or cardiopulmonary strength, say -- or mental fortitude, the ability to persevere in the face of adversity.
So if an ordinary person trained extensively and acquired the same level of physical athleticism, could he or she take on a pro? The answer, according to neuroscience, appears to be no.
