Neural efficiency secrets used in F1 “can really benefit” corporate world

CoFiGi Performance says it is ready to roll out its unique neural efficiency programme that is being used to lower stress levels amongst Formula 1 pit stop crew members to the corporate world.

Simon Fitchett’s and Jof Cox’s business, located at Silverstone Park’s Innovation Centre, is the UK arm of Italian-based Formula Medicine – a global leader in training methodologies which are the result of innovative research developed with F1 drivers – and its latest enterprise, Mental Economy, created solely for mental training.

Simon commented:

“We have a special set of skills and believe we are unique in what we do in the UK.

“If you think that sports people work out to exercise the body; well, what we do is help exercise the brain to make it perform as strongly and efficiently as possible.

With the feedback that we and Formula Medicine have had from HR bosses, we believe employers in the corporate world can really benefit from the methods and techniques that we use in F1 to improve the performance of people working in high-pressure roles and environments.

He added: “One F1 team has come on board with us with some of their personnel and Formula Medicine – whose methods we use – are similarly working with another F1 team.

“We’ve seen strong results with top racing drivers. After we’ve analysed how their brain is responding to an assessment we put them through, they then use our techniques to increase their brain’s efficiency and capacity.

“Take the pressure situation of a pit stop during a grand prix, for example. You don’t want to be giving away even a quarter of a second to your rivals and that’s what we’re about – getting the individual to operate virtually on autopilot so they achieve that poetry in motion.”

CoFiGi monitors an individual’s brain patterns using EEG (electroencephalography) bands which detect activity during tests which can include responding to words or numbers on a screen.

Jof explained:

“The EEG reads electrical activity in the frontal lobe which is the thinking part of the brain.

“The data from the EEG’s readings helps us to then improve the neural efficiency.

“From a corporate’s aspect, you might have two people doing the same roles and are pretty good at their jobs – however, one is working at 6,500rpm and the other at 1,500rpm.

“We want to get the first person down to the second person’s data.”

Neural efficiency training already undertaken by one global corporate with Formula Medicine in Italy has convinced Simon and Jof that now is the time to offer the same principles through their ‘mental economy gym’ to non-motorsport sectors in the UK.

Simon continued:

“The assessment and training can take place here at Silverstone Park with the Grand Prix circuit right next door and we’re also able to travel to business’s headquarters.

Over a ten-week course we would be 100 per cent confident that each individual would see a notable improvement in their mental ability – and stress levels when under pressure – which they can apply to their world of work, thus improving productivity.

Jof said: “Each person’s data is kept totally confidential, just like a doctor would with a patient’s health records.

“This isn’t about stepping on people’s toes or making anyone feel threatened.

“Instead, we very much see this as an add-on to an employee wellness scheme that, focusing on mental health, would be a huge bonus for them.”