To investigate the performance of NeuroTracker multiple object tracking (MOT) training in 2D and 3D environments, in both healthy and concussed individuals, across three study environments.

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86 participants between the age of 8 and 91 years of age, completed 30 NeuroTracker sessions over the course of ten visits. The individuals were assigned to one of three studies: an environment comparison of 2-D vs 3-D training (n=58), a comparison of 3-D training among aging populations (n=38), or a comparison of 3-D training among concussed populations (n=34; non-concussed, recently concussed and prolonged concussed).

NeuroTracker training in 3-D showed benefit across age groups and concussed populations, demonstrating that all individuals could increase performance. When comparing learning performance between aged individuals, NeuroTracker learning rates increased at a lesser rate (p<0.05). Trends were similar for the concussed group, where the longer an individual was suffering from concussion symptoms, the lower the initial NeuroTracker score. However, they also showed a higher rate of learning performance throughout training. Of particular interest was the response to the 2-D and 3-D training environments. Significant differences were apparent when the environments were compared, with participants in the 3-D environment outperforming the individuals in the 2-D environment. Additionally, switching from the 3-D to the 2-D environment was shown to be detrimental to performance.

The author concluded that it appears the brain does not process monocular cues (2-D) for a 3-D environment, at the same rate or skill level, as it can binocular cues for a 3-D environment (3-D). As the participants training in 3-D showed a higher learning curve throughout the training program, these findings further demonstrate the added benefit and learning potential when training MOT in a 3-D environment.

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To examine baseline relationships between the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 (SCAT3), the King-Devick Test (KDT) and 3D Multiple Object Tracking (NeuroTracker).

304 healthy, non-concussed, athletes (101 females, 203 males), ranging in age from 11-20 years old, completed the SCAT3, KDT and NeuroTracker in a single visit. The results were analysed to see if any aspects of the SCAT3 or the KDT predicted 3D NeuroTracker baselines.

Component tests of the SCAT3 and KDT explained a significant amount of the variance in NeuroTracker speed thresholds. King Devick Test, Delayed Recall, and coordination tests had the highest predictive validity for NeuroTracker baselines. The authors suggest that these correlations could lead to valuable information to better inform clinicians responsible for making Return to Play determinations.

To examine NeuroTracker learning effects in youth with and without mTBI, and investigate if NeuroTracker can train visual perception after mTBI for stimulating recovery and informing return to activity decisions.

34 male and female participants, aged 9–18 years, completed 18 NeuroTracker Core sessions spread out over 6 visits. 20 of the participants were controls, with no history of mTBI. 14 participants had a recent history of mTBI, but were symptom free.

Both groups improved on the NeuroTracker task over time. The control group showed a strong learning curve, with a 79% increase in speed thresholds over the course of the training. The mTBI group showed minimal learning over the first 6 sessions, then a similarly strong learning curve over the following 12 sessions, with a 66% increase in overall speed thresholds. The difference in learning over the first 6 sessions suggests that cognitive deficits persist at a symptom free stage of post-mTBI, and that better clinical assessments are needed to reveal such functional deficits. The results showed that both healthy youth and youth with mTBI can benefit from NeuroTracker training with significant learning effects. This study suggests that NeuroTracker could serve as an inexpensive and easily accessible tracker of recovery for pediatric mTBIs, and that children may benefit from the training following mTBI.

To investigate the potential for NeuroTracker scores to be a marker of functional recovery after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Twenty child and adolescent participants completed 18 NeuroTracker sessions over the course of 6 visits. Ten participants in the experimental group had previously sustained a concussion (between 2014-2017) and had obtained clearance for complete return to activities, determined by standardized testing from a multi-disciplinary team. Ten participants in the healthy control group had no previous history of mTBI. A pre-post assessment of clinical measures validated for the mTBI population was administered, including balance and coordination (balance and bilateral coordination subtests of the Bruinkinks Oseretsky test of Motor Proficiency), self-reported fatigue (Peds-QL multidimensional fatigue scale), self-efficacy on athletic skills and mTBI presentation related to physical activity, and a computerized cognitive test battery (ImPACT).

Children across both groups displayed similar learning curves with the NeuroTracker task, showing no significant differences in training response and speed threshold scores. Similarly, no significant differences were found in the clinical measures between groups for the initial and final visits. Findings suggest that children who are deemed clinically recovered from a specialized mTBI clinic achieve gains in NeuroTracker performance similar to that of healthy controls. This highlights the importance of appropriate clinical management following mTBI, as well as the potential use of NeuroTracker to track injury progression and be used as a clinical marker of recovery.

To investigate if the major need for more effective concussion assessment tools in sports can by be addressed by NeuroTracker, and to compare any differences with traditionally used assessments.

59 professional athletes were tested with NeuroTracker (3 Core sessions), the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), and the Modified Balance Error Scoring System (M-BESS) tests, each at 48 hours following a concussion injury. The tests were repeated at return-to-play (RTP) status following a standard concussion management protocol. The majority of athletes were classed with severe concussions, as determined by an expert neurologist. Additionally, normative NeuroTracker data for healthy elite athletes was used for analytical reference, along with pre-season baselines on SAC and M-BESS tests for 32 out of the 59 of the injured athletes.

Multiple statistical analyses of the tests revealed the following. Compared to health athletes, the learning function within the 48 hours of concussion was totally disrupted for the injured athletes. NeuroTracker scores at 48 hours were significantly lower than normal, and correlated to the total number of symptoms reported. NeuroTracker scores for the RTP evaluations revealed a significant improvement in NeuroTracker scores (though still below healthy athlete levels). In comparison the SAC and M-BESS tests’ usefulness for monitoring concussion was found to be weak, with limited or negligible correlation to pre-season baselines, as corroborated in other studies. For the first time, this study demonstrates the unique role of NeuroTracker to monitor sport-related concussion, addressing some of the requirements needed to appropriately respond to real-world sport-specific demands.

To investigate NeuroTracker as an alternative or additional assessment tool for patients with long term post-concussion syndrome (PCS).

A large sample of 457 males and females aged 6 to 73, were evaluated on NeuroTracker (3 sessions), the Sports Concussion Assessment (SCAT), cognition, and balance. 265 participants had no history of concussions, 135 individuals were asymptomatic with a prior concussion, and 57 individuals were currently symptomatic with a concussion. A Decision Tree Prediction model was used to provide a more sophisticated assessment current concussion status.

In individuals under 13 years of age (males only), no significant correlations were found between NeuroTracker scores and concussion status, but scores positively associated with SCAT results. In individuals aged 13 years or older, NeuroTracker scores were significantly lower in symptomatic individuals, than individuals who were asymptomatic or had no prior history of concussions. NeuroTracker results did not correlate significantly with SCAT scores, but did correlate positively with cognition and balance assessments.

Decision Tree Prediction of PCS using NeuroTracker scores, demographic information and number of days since injury. The model was very strong at classifying concussion status (symptomatic, asymptomatic and no history), with an excellent specificity accuracy of 97.8%. This represents the maximum accuracy of any reported alternatives, which have dominantly focused only on injury status immediately after concussion, i.e. when it is most clearly diagnosable. For this reason the researchers conclude the diagnostic efficacy to be remarkable, and hypothesized that this type of success maybe be due to the neurological demands on motion perception that NeuroTracker elicits.