How Bilateral Stimulation Boosts Elite Athlete Mental Performance: NASCAR Case Study
By Ben Foodman
For athletes today, the final frontier of performance isn’t physical—it’s mental. Competition has never been more intense, driven by rapid advancements in sport science that have revolutionized training methods. With a wide array of tools and techniques available, athletes are constantly looking for new ways to gain an edge—and because their competitors are doing the same, it creates a kind of arms race.
Take professional racecar drivers. In high-stakes series like NASCAR, IMSA, WRC, and IndyCar, they’re not only racing—they’re fighting to keep their seat. Strong qualifying results are essential for job security, making mental preparation just as critical as physical training.
While most elite drivers follow similar physical regimens, fewer take full advantage of sport psychology techniques. This gap offers a unique opportunity for performance differentiation.
Intro to Bilateral Stimulation (BLS):
One method gaining traction in this space is bilateral stimulation (BLS)—a rhythmic, alternating activation of the brain’s left and right hemispheres. Though rooted in therapeutic practices, BLS is now being used by athletes across disciplines to enhance focus and mental clarity. It can be delivered through eye movements, auditory tones, or tactile input using handheld devices.
For athletes, tactile BLS—delivered through tools like Dharma Dr. Tabs—has proven especially effective. Their wireless, portable design makes them easy to integrate into pre-performance routines. The result: deeper focus, improved regulation, and better performance under pressure. Let’s explore how some elite racecar drivers are using this technique—and why it’s making a difference in their mental performance.
Case Study On Bilateral Stimulation During NASCAR Qualification
In NASCAR and other motorsport series, one of the most high-pressure moments of a race happens before the race even begins—during qualifying. In this event, drivers attempt to set the fastest lap on the track. Drivers with the best lap times start at the front of the grid, while those with slower times are placed further back. The driver who clocks the fastest lap earns the coveted front-row position and is referred to as the “pole-sitter.” Starting at the front provides a major competitive advantage, so the pressure to perform during qualifying is immense.
One way drivers aim to boost their focus and performance in these moments is through pre-performance routines—such as using mental imagery to visualize driving the perfect race line. But there are ways to elevate the effectiveness of these imagery routines. One method that’s gaining traction is incorporating bilateral stimulation tools, such as the Dharma Dr. Tabs.
Drivers who have used bilateral stimulation during pre-performance imagery report a deeper ability to concentrate on the visualization and see the images more clearly. As a result, many of them have noticed measurable improvements in their qualifying outcomes, some of whom have reported improvements ranging from .5 to 1 second in qualifying times (while these may seem like microscopic improvements, any driver will tell you that 1 second in NASCAR is like an eternity). These drivers also reported that when they used the Dharma Dr. tabs during Karting training sessions, they set new PRs in lap times on the track which they believe was a result from their improved imagery experience.
So what’s happening in the brain that’s allowing these results to occur?
The Science Behind Bilateral Stimulation & Mental Imagery Routines
Part of the reason some sport psychologists are having athletes utilize bilateral stimulation during an imagery routine is because of some of the specific benefits it produces from Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing therapy (AKA EMDR). The reason bilateral stimulation is a core element of EMDR therapy is because these repeated, rhythmic inputs—such as eye movements, taps, or sounds—activate the brain's natural ability to process information. This helps re-evaluate and store distressing memories, often stemming from stressful or traumatic events. By mirroring the brain activity of REM sleep, bilateral stimulation, often facilitated by tools like tappers, supports emotional healing within a safe therapeutic setting.
In the context of sport performance, this same mechanism can help reduce pre-competition nerves, strengthen mental imagery routines, and improve cognitive-emotional regulation—giving athletes a clearer, more confident mindset before they compete.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the bilateral stimulation tabs most likely allow athletes such as NASCAR drivers to reduce the nerves they are experiencing prior to performance, more effectively encode the imagery blueprint they have created during their pre-performance routine, which in turn increases their ability to properly execute a high-precision qualification result. It then stands to reason that if Dharma Dr. Tabs have helped elite race car drivers withstand the pressure cooker of a NASCAR race, while also improving their psychological focus, then all athletes in all sports should strongly consider incorporating this tool into their mental skills training routines!
Private Practice
Ben Foodman is a licensed psychotherapist and sport performance specialist. He owns his private practice in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he works exclusively with athletes to help them improve their psychological health, clear mental blocks (AKA the Yips), and achieve peak performance. He is a Brainspotting Consultant/Expert, a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) & a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. He has extensive experience working with professional motorsport athletes such as NASCAR, IndyCar, WRC & IMSA drivers, MLB players, NFL players, and collegiate endurance athletes competing in the SEC & ACC. To learn more about Ben and additional resources he provides, please visit his Website.
