The Brain's Full Potential is Being Unlocked by Businesses Everywhere

This study investigated the effects of a simulated game-situation cognitive load (NeuroTracker) on lower limb biomechanics, using a landing task relevant to straining of the Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). ACL injuries are known to be one of the most sports common injuries, and occurrence has been linked to cognitive factors.

7 college level healthy athletes (soccer, volleyball, football) performed 16 single-leg landing trials involving a jump forward and a lateral jump to the opposing leg. These movements were measured via force plates and motion capture of the legs and pelvis using 36 markers. The NeuroTracker task was assigned randomly to half of the trials (dual-task procedure), with jumps performed during the tracking phase.

While NeuroTracking hip and/or knee kinematics measurements were significantly different for all participants. The largest change was found with knee abduction angle, known to be most associated to ACL injury. Of the 7 participants, 4 showed biomechanical changes from the added NeuroTracker task that revealed increased ACL strain associated with ACL injury. Based on the preliminary findings, the researchers hypothesize that a NeuroTracker training intervention may reduce risk on of non-contact ACL injury, and will perform a larger study with more detailed biomechanical analysis.

To investigate if real-time Neurofeedback can enhance learning rates for NeuroTracker training.

40 healthy adults were assigned to four training groups (ten each), performing either:-

• Standard NeuroTracker training

• No training (control group)

• NeuroTracker with EEG-Neurofeedback

• NeuroTracker with sham Neurofeedback

EEG-Neurofeedback involved closed-loop feedback that automatically detects when a participant has lost track of their targets and immediately reindexes them.

The standard NeuroTracker group, control group and EEG-Neurofeedback groups started a similar level, higher than the sham Neurofeedback group. However the EEG-Neurofeedback showed superior learning rates over all other groups over the course of 10 training sessions. The results show that a closed-loop learning paradigm is highly effective at enhancing learning outcomes on the NeuroTracker task.

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To investigate if the decline in biological motion perception associated with healthy aging can be reversed with a short NeuroTracker training intervention.

13 participants completed 3-hours of NeuroTracker training over 5-weeks, and 28 control participants did either experimental training or no training (overall mean age of 67 years old). Pre-post assessments of biological motion perception was assessed with a VR walker (point like display) at 4m and 16m.

Pre-NeuroTracker training participants displayed significantly lower performance for interpreting human movement at 4m, compared to 16m. Controls showed no change post-training, whereas the NeuroTracker trained group's performance at 4m rose to the level of their performance at 16m. As biological motion perception abilities are deemed to be important for social skills, as well as critical for collision avoidance at 4m, the researchers concluded that the results demonstrate NeuroTracker to be a useful form of generic training for helping older people deal with socially relevant dynamic scenes.

To assess the extent to which action video game players perform better than non-gamers on cognitive functions measured by NeuroTracker and neuropsychological assessments.

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14 professional and 16 amateur action video game players completed a battery of 7 standardized neuropsychological assessments, a manual dexterity test, and 14 NeuroTracker sessions. Statistical analysis techniques were used to compare cognitive differences.

Analysis revealed that high performance in professional action video games players is associated with enhanced abilities in visual spatial attention, visual and auditory short-term memory, and selective and sustained attention. No significant differences between professionals and amateurs were evident on tasks evaluating executive functions, perceptual manipulation, or manual dexterity. Although both groups displayed a similar learning capacity to improve at NeuroTracker over 90-mins of training, professionals exhibited a distinct performance advantage throughout the intervention. The results overall suggest that elite action video gamers have superior attentional control.

To to determine whether a hydration plan based off of an athlete’s sweat rate and sodium loss, improves anaerobic and neurocognitive performance during a moderate to hard training session, as well as heart rate recovery from the session.

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15 NCAA collegiate athletes from Merrimack College from multiple sports first underwent a qualitative assessment for hydration habits and knowledge, then were assessed for sweat loss, and randomly assigned to either a prescription hydration plan (PHP) or asked to continue with their normal hydration habits (NHP). All participants completed underwent performance assessments prior, during, and immediately after a moderate to hard sports-specific training session. Assessments included NeuroTracker baselines, standing long jump, heart rate and Vo2 Max monitoring, as well as sodium and sweat loss monitoring.

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NeuroTracker baselines provided a clear indication that a prescription hydration plan has a significantly better influence on perceptual-cognitive functions, both pre and post physical training, compared to a normal hydration plan. Overall, the researchers conclude that this is the first investigation to show that an individually tailored hydration plan improves athletic performance for collegiate athletes engaged in a variety of sports.

To examine the transferability of perceptual-cognitive training using NeuroTracker to on-field soccer performance parameters.

22 NCAA Division I women’s soccer players (ages of 18-25) were split into trained and control groups. After baseline testing on NeuroTracker, the experimental group completed 10 NeuroTracker sessions (60-mins) over four-weeks. Game performance data, successful action, passing percentage, and short-medium range passing percentage, was collected utilizing Wyscout video analysis software during a competitive season.

NeuroTracker visual tracking speeds for the trained group significantly increased by 68% from pre-training baseline, while the control group had a 12% increase from baseline testing effects. Analysis showed no significant effects of training over the control group for on performance metrics, except for average in game passing-accuracy, which increased significantly over the control group.

To analyze the repeated effect of stroboscopic vision training on perceptual-cognitive and anticipation skills in soccer players.

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28 male soccer players randomized into two groups: Stroboscopic vision training and control groups. The trained group completed 8-weeks of stroboscopic training. Pre post assessments were completed for both groups, which included NeuroTracker baselines and assessments decision-making and anticipation skills.

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Both groups improved by similar amounts in NeuroTracker baselines and decision-making. However the trained group showed a larger improvement in anticipation skill than the control group. The findings suggest that stroboscopic vision training does not improve perceptual-cognitive functions or decision-making, but may aid anticipation skills in soccer athletes.

To examine the effects of NeuroTracker training on standardised measures of attention, working memory, and visual information processing speed using standardized neuropsychological tests. Additionally to measure changes in brain state using functional brain imaging.

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20 university-aged students were recruited and divided into an NT training group (30 sessions of NeuroTracker) and a non-active control group. Cognitive functions were assessed using standardized neuropsychological tests (IVA+Plus, WAIS-III, D-KEFS), and correlates of brain functions were assessed using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG).

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The trained group showed strong and consistent improvements in NeuroTracker speed thresholds throughout the training period. The NT group demonstrated significantly higher scores on the IVA+Plus Auditory, WAIS Symbol Search, WAIS Code, WAIS Block Design, WAIS Letter-Number Sequence, d2 Test of Attention, and D-KEFS Color Naming, Inhibition and Inhibition/Switching subtests (P < .01). For qEEG measures the NT group demonstrated significant relative power increases in a range of frequencies within the beta bandwidth, with both eyes open and closed resting states. These changes were observed across frontal regions of the brain (executive function) and represented increases in brain wave speed associated with heightened brain activity and neuroplasticity. Overall results indicated that NeuroTracker training can enhance attention, information processing speed, and working memory, and also lead to positive changes in neuroelectric brain function.

To compare the learning efficiency 3D-MOT (NeuroTracker) with 2D-MOT, and investigate whether any advantages can be reflected by heart rate variability (HRV).

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26 female U15 soccer players completed the 2D- and 3D-MOT tasks with the order reversed for half of the participants. HRV measures were recorded live during the training.

The female soccer players displayed higher learning efficiency in the 3D-MOT task than in the 2D-MOT. HRV analysis revealed that the training had some stimulation associated with inducing flow states in 2D, but that this effect was significantly greater with 3D-MOT. The researchers concluded that this study highlights the role of flow experience in the utility and applicability of 3D-MOT in soccer sport.

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