The Brain Types that are most adept in this highest segment of the motor cortex are the 4 Sensing Feelers, or SF’s. These people have the greatest proficiency with the gross motor skills, or large muscle groups of the body. There are two major aspects of body coordination, which all Types have, yet the SFs are best at these. First, there is body “control,” which comes from the left brain and tends to specialize in the separate parts in a movement; the SFJ’s master this ability. Second there is body “rhythm,” a product of the right brain which processes multiple parts of movement into an artistic, graceful flow. The SFP’s are masters here.
Athletes with the 4 SF Brain Types normally show strong manifestations of these characteristics as they engage the large muscles groups with either “control” or “rhythm.” Picture in your mind such performers and SFPs, as basketball's Magic Johnson and Dennis Rodman, baseball's Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds, golf's Lee Trevino, tennis’ Lindsay Davenport, and track's Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson and Marion Jones.
The Sensing Thinkers or STs specialize in the second region of the motor cortex as we move away from the cerebral core and down the cortex; this area is responsible for fine motor skills. It covers the elbow to the fingertips and also the eye area. This helps explain why the 4 ST’s have a special inborn ability to master fine motor skills, especially as they relate to hand-eye coordina*tion. Two significant aspects are associated with hand-eye coordination: Calculated dexterity is the special skill or adroitness in using the hands to manipulate objects in a controlled fashion. This ability to handle detailed movements comes principally from the left brain. Here the STJ’s excel.
The other major aspect of hand-eye coordination involves spontaneous positioning, or placing the hand in the proper loca*tion at a given moment. The right brain primarily regulates this skill. Therefore, it now makes sense why the STP’s are masterful here. Some of the STP’s who’ve perfected fine motor movements are hockey’s Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Brett Hull, baseball’s Ted Williams and Henry Aaron, basketball’s John Stockton, Larry Bird and a guy named Michael Jordan. And by the way, the ST’s are only once removed from the SF’s on the motor cortex; thus they’re blessed with big muscle movements, but not as gifted as the SF’s. Conversely, the SF’s are very good with fine motors but not as expert as the ST’s.
The third and final region down the motor cortex is mastered by the 4 iNtuitive Feelers, or NFs. Here we see the face and mouth's area of control (such as language and hearing skills). Therefore, NFs specialize in the verbal and the auditory. Yet, they’re also adept with motor skills, able to coordinate gross and fine motor movements better than other Types. The left-brained NFJs coordinate the 2 muscle groups methodically and the 2 right-brained NFP’s synchronize the gross and fine motors with fluidity and grace. This demonstrates why ENFPs are the top figure skaters and divers in the world. Some NFP’s have included Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan, golf’s Tiger Woods and David Duval, basketball’s Kevin Garnett, and diving’s Greg Louganis.
The 4 NT’s do rely on big and small muscle movements, but not as much as the other 12 Brain Types. In fact, many times NT’s excel in sports because their muscles aren’t so dominant. For instance, a baseball pitcher gets more movement on the ball when his grip is light rather than strong. This is why ENTP pitchers can create the most movement on a fastball.
Since the NT’s are farthest removed of the Types from the gross motor region, they are naturally better with fine motor movements. JN works with NT athletes all the time and their greatest physical hindrance is mastery over the large muscle groups, especially the lower body. ENTPs, for example, find tremendous benefit by widening their stances in such sports as baseball and golf—proving them the necessary balance to hit the ball most effectively. The 2 left-brained NTJ’s are more mechanical in their motor movements while the 2 right-brained NTP’s are smoother—even though their movements are often disjointed. Some left-brained NTJ athletes have included baseball’s Randy Johnson and golf’s Hale Irwin and Tom Kite. Right-brained NTP athletes have included baseball’s Kevin Brown and tennis’ Pete Sampras.