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The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine dipeptide (AG) and electrolyte drink (ED) on cognitive function (NeuroTracker) following endurance exercise, in order to measure the effects of rehydration effectiveness.

12 male endurance athletes performed four trials, each consisting of running on a treadmill at 70% of VO2max for 1h, then at 90% of VO2max until exhaustion. One trial consisted of no hydration, another required ingestion of only a sports electrolyte drink (ED) and two trials required ingestion of a low dose (LD) and high dose of AG (HD) added to the ED. Cognitive function was measured through NeuroTracker baselines pre and post-exercise.

Before rehydration, subjects lost on average 2.4% of their body mass. Pre-post rehydration changes showed HD to be the most effective in aiding cognitive function, and electrolyte only having questionable benefit.

To investigate if cognitive training programs can reduce expected cognitive decline associated with aging.

44 participants of 60 years or older were equally divided into an experimental (with NeuroTracker) and a comparative group (without NeuroTracker) and completed 12 training sessions per week. Both groups practiced mnemonic memory training techniques. Pre and post assessments were also conducted, including a a sociodemographic questionnaire, neuropsychological assessment and NeuroTracker pre and post baseline measures.

Both groups experienced some benefits from the memory training, however only the NeuroTracker trained group achieved transfer benefits for attention, reaction time, visual processing speed, episodic, semantic, subjective and working memory as well as aspects of social cognition. The researchers concluded that NeuroTracker with memory training contributed to significantly improved cognitive performance over memory training alone, and that more research should be conducted for elderly populations with and without cognitive deficits.

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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To investigate if comprehensive physical and cognitiveassessments can help improve the competitive performance of elite mountainsrunners.

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7 male international-standard mountain runners undertook a battery of physiological and biological tests (blood and urine biochemistry, VO2Max, EKG), along with a NeuroTracker baseline assessment, both at the beginning and end of a competitive season. Systematized medical analyses of the initial data was used to tailor each athlete's ongoing performance programs. In addition, the athletes undertook a NeuroTracker training intervention of 42 sessions across the competitive season. The same post-season battery of assessments along with competition results were analyzed to the determine effects of the adapted training programs.

All athletes' race results improved over previous years' performances. Moderate post-season improvements were seen across the physiological and biological tests from the adapted performance programs. NeuroTracker post-season baselines also improved dramatically, with scores increasing by +75% over pre-season baselines. The researchers concluded the NeuroTracker intervention demonstrated that perceptual–cognitive skills were perfectly trainable and could improve sports performance.

To test the theory that driving performance is strongly associated with dynamic processing of multiple objects, by evaluating if NeuroTracker measures correlate with older driving performance in simulated scenarios.

30 experienced drivers with ages ranging from 65-85 years old were tested on one session of NeuroTracker (3D-MOT), and completed up to 3 driving scenarios on the STISIM 3.0 driving simulator. 5 unexpected events were included in the scenarios to test crash risk. The correlations between NeuroTracker speed thresholds and simulator measures (crash rate, lane deviation) were then calculated.

Highly significant correlations were found between NeuroTracker thresholds and both crash rate and lane deviation in the highway driving scenarios. Lower NeuroTracker scores were strongly associated with lane deviation during highway merging, and higher NeuroTracker scores related to participants being less likely to crash across different scenarios, and to have better overall lane maintenance skills. This study adds plausibility to the idea that a multiple object tracking test such as NeuroTracker could be a candidate for inclusion in an assessment battery for older drivers.

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 evaluate the effectiveness and transfer of an NeuroTracker training on visual and executive functions in youth elite soccer players.

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29 elite youth soccer players were recruited and divided into training and control groups. Visual and executive functions were analyzed in a pre–post test design with both groups doing regular soccer training, and the trained group also completing 10 weeks of NeuroTracker training twice a week. Transfer assessments included tests with the Senaptec Sensory Station, the Trail Making Test, and the Design Fluency test.

Large differences in NeuroTracker initial baselines were found both between the groups, and within the groups. For the trained group, initial baselines were strongly correlated with improvement rates. Assessments show gains for both groups in working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibition, metacognition, MOT, attention window and processing speed, but only measures inhibition, visual clarity showed advantages specific to the trained group. The researchers recommended studies with a dual-task training intervention and larger number of participants may be needed to reveal training effects for this population.

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 identify across ages, in younger males and females, and to compare, in younger males, the anthropometrics, athletic abilities and perceptual-cognitive skills associated with baseball pitcher's ball velocity.

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Male and female athletes completed a sociodemographic questionnaire followed by anthropometric, athletic ability, perceptual-cognitive skill and pitching velocity assessments. Athletes were categorized by their age categories (11U, 13U, 15U, 18U, 21U). To evaluate the athletes' anthropometrics, height and weight, BMI, waist circumference, arms segmental length and girth were measured. Athletic abilities were assessed using athletes' grip strength, upper body power, vertical jump height, sprint, change of direction, and dynamic balance. Perceptual-cognitive skills performance was assessed with NeuroTracker, and pitching performance assessment was completed using the athletes' average fastball velocity.

In male athletes across each age category all anthropometric, athletic ability and perceptual-cognitive skill factors were associated with pitching velocity with associations, with effects being stronger the older the age category. NeuroTracker baselines has some of the strongest associations to pitching velocity and athletic abilities across age categories.