January 2016
in
Psychology of Sport & Exercise
Attention and concentration are crucial abilities that affect the decision-making of athletes; e.g. during a soccer action, an athlete has to divide attention on the field (teammates, opponents, ball), to use selective attention (which player to give the ball to) and to focus attention (staring at the net to score). To this purpose, many benefits may arise from the high-level NeuroTracker conditioning technique as it stimulates active processing of dynamic visual information and trains perceptual- cognitive functions of athletes. In particular, it targets selective, dynamic and sustained attention, as well as working memory.
23 university soccer players participated in the study and were randomly allocated to three different groups. Experimental group: performed 30 NeuroTracker Core sessions over a 5 week period Active control group: performed 30 3D soccer videos sessions over 5 week periodPassive control group: No particular training activity over a 5 week period.Players ’ decision-making was evaluated during standardized small sided games before and after the training period. Decision-making of soccer players was objectively analysed through video recordings of the small sided games by a soccer coach blinded to the experimental protocol and using a standardized coding criteria. Subjective decision-making accuracy was directly evaluated from players’ confidence levels in decision-making promptly after the games using a Visual Analog Scale (Sport Performance Scale).
Only the NeuroTracker trained group showed an increase (15%) in passing decision making on the field after the training. Moreover, players’ subjective decision-making assessment was quantitatively proportional to the improvement in decision-making accuracy rated during video analysis for theNeuroTracker trained group.These results seem to demonstrate that passing decision-making accuracy improvement in the trained group represents a meaningful training effect. For the first time, this study demonstrates a perceptual-cognitive transfer from the laboratory to the field following a non-sport specific perceptual-cognitive training program.
Home-based NeuroTrackerX training improved working memory performance in competitive soccer players, with corresponding changes in brain activity.
To examine whether home-based NeuroTrackerX training improves cognitive performance and modulates brain activity in university-level soccer players.
Twenty-nine male university soccer players were assigned to either an NeuroTracker training group (30 home-based sessions over 9 weeks) or a control group continuing regular activities. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included NeuroTracker performance (3D-MOT), 2-back and 3-back working memory tasks, and EEG recordings (Fz) during n-back task performance.
The NeuroTracker group showed a significant increase in NeuroTracker scores post-training (p < .001), while the control group did not. Performance improved to approximately 128–130% of baseline after ~30 sessions, confirming effective learning in a home-based self-training format.
A significant improvement was observed in 2-back accuracy (p = .045) in the NeuroTracker group only, suggesting transfer to working memory and attentional updating under moderate load. No significant improvements were observed in the more demanding 3-back condition. Both groups responded faster at post-test, likely reflecting practice effects rather than training-specific changes.
During the 2-back task, alpha-band power (Fz) increased significantly post-training in the NeuroTracker group (p < .001). The authors interpret the alpha increase as reflecting improved attentional regulation and neural efficiency (inhibitory gating).
Intensive sports training may offset the perceptual–cognitive disadvantage associated with being relatively younger within an age cohort during childhood and adolescence.
To examine whether relative age (birth quartile), training background, and stereopsis influence perceptual–cognitive performance measured using a 3D multiple object tracking (3D-MOT) task in youth athletes.
A total of 165 male youth athletes aged 10–16 years were categorized by birth quartile and training exposure (moderately trained: 1–2 sessions/week; well-trained: 4–5 sessions/week). Participants completed a standard NeuroTracker 3D-MOT protocol under both stereoscopic (3D) and non-stereoscopic (2D) conditions. Speed thresholds were calculated using an adaptive staircase procedure and compared across groups.
Among moderately trained athletes, those born earlier in the selection year outperformed relatively younger peers, demonstrating a perceptual–cognitive Relative Age Effect. However, in well-trained athletes, performance differences between birth quartiles disappeared, with later-born athletes achieving comparable tracking thresholds. Performance was significantly higher in 3D versus 2D conditions, but stereopsis did not interact with birth quartile or training status.
These findings suggest that structured training exposure may mitigate perceptual–cognitive disadvantages associated with relative age during development.
Dynamic visual tracking performance in young basketball players does not significantly decline following cognitive fatigue induced by a Stroop task.
To investigate whether acute cognitive fatigue, induced via a Stroop task, affects multiple object tracking performance in young basketball athletes.
Participants were young basketball players who completed a standard Stroop task designed to induce cognitive fatigue. After the Stroop protocol, participants were assessed on a 3D multiple object tracking (3D-MOT) task to evaluate perceptual-cognitive tracking performance under fatigued cognitive conditions. Performance on the NeuroTracker task was compared between the fatigue condition and either baseline or control conditions.
Participants’ 3D-MOT performance did not show a significant decrement following Stroop-induced cognitive fatigue. Dynamic tracking thresholds and accuracy remained statistically similar across the fatigued and non-fatigued conditions, suggesting that the athletes’ perceptual-cognitive tracking ability was resilient to this laboratory-induced mental fatigue protocol.
NeuroTracker 3D-MOT baseline performance was established using CORE sessions, and the intervention showed gains in tracking ability though broader performance transfer was limited.
To evaluate the effects of a vision training program — including 3D multiple object tracking (3D-MOT) as implemented in NeuroTracker — on perceptual-cognitive performance in an athletic or high-performance context.
Participants completed baseline NeuroTracker assessments using the standard CORE program (three CORE sessions and one sustained attention session) to establish baseline dynamic tracking speed thresholds. The training protocol involved repeated 3D-MOT sessions embedded within a broader vision training regimen. Performance was assessed pre- and post-training.
Baseline assessments used the NeuroTracker CORE protocol to quantify tracking thresholds. Post-training increases in baseline tracking performance were observed, suggesting that repeated 3D-MOT exposure enhanced basic perceptual-cognitive tracking ability. However, the pilot nature of the study and limited transfer to broader functional outcomes indicate that while 3D-MOT improves task-specific performance, the broader utility for real-world or sport performance remains preliminary.
Baseline NeuroTracker performance was not significantly associated with overall season performance metrics in university varsity athletes.
To determine whether baseline NeuroTracker performance predicts overall season sport performance in university varsity athletes.
University varsity athletes completed baseline NeuroTracker assessments prior to their competitive season. Objective season performance statistics were collected and analyzed to evaluate potential associations between baseline perceptual-cognitive tracking ability and in-season performance outcomes.
No significant correlation was found between baseline NeuroTracker performance and overall season sport performance metrics. These findings suggest that baseline perceptual-cognitive tracking ability alone may not directly predict aggregate competitive outcomes, highlighting the multifactorial nature of sport performance.
Domain-specific cognitive training led to measurable improvements in executive function performance in youth elite soccer players.
To investigate whether domain-specific cognitive training can enhance executive function performance in youth elite soccer players.
Elite youth soccer players completed a structured cognitive training program targeting perceptual-cognitive and executive processes. Standardized executive function measures were administered before and after the intervention to assess changes in cognitive performance.
Participants demonstrated significant improvements in executive function measures following the training intervention, suggesting that structured cognitive training may enhance higher-order cognitive processes relevant to athletic performance. These findings support the potential value of targeted cognitive training approaches within elite youth sport development programs.
NeuroTracker is one of the most widely researched cognitive training systems, used in elite sports, military, and human performance settings worldwide. Built on 20 years of neuroscience research.
.png)