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To investigate how perceptual–cognitive performance is affected during high-intensity interval training (HIIT) using NeuroTracker(NT) assessments.

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42 healthy adults were randomly assigned to an intervention (HIIT + NT, NT, HIIT) or control group. NT performance was measured pre-and post-test at 5, 15, and 25 min while running on a treadmill. The participants trained twice a week for a 4-week intervention period.

There was a significant interaction effect between pre/post-test and groups regarding perceptual-cognitive performance, indicating similar enhancements in the HIIT + NT and the NT group during exercise. HIIT influences physical fitness but did not show any impact on perceptual–cognitive performance. Overall training resulted in substantial task-specific gains. The researchers suggest combination training may be proposed as a training program to improve perceptual–cognitive, and physical performance in a time-efficient way.

To investigate if an unsupervised remote NeuroTracker training intervention could subjectively improve performance outcomes with elite athletes across a range of different sports.

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54 elite athletes from boxing, wrestling, women’s handball, women’s soccer, orienteering, biathlon, alpine skiing, sled hockey, badminton and table tennis completed at least four NeuroTracker sessions per week over a 5 week period. The athletes trained independently from the researchers, using personal NeuroTracker accounts. They were also not given any instructions on the training, to avoid potential biases. All the athletes completed pre and post Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaires (7 point Likert scale), to self-assess their current performance status.

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Almost all the participants completed at least the minimum of 4 NeuroTracker sessions per week, indicating a high compliance. On average the athletes experienced an improvement in normalized NeuroTracker speed thresholds of 39% by the end of the 5 weeks. The results of Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaires showed an improvement from a rating of 18.9, to 19.2.

To investigate the effectiveness of NeuroTracker training with elite volleyball players as a form of off-court cognitive performance training.

43 elite volleyball athletes performed pre—post NeuroTracker baselines, along with several transfer tests. The active group completed an 8-week NeuroTracker training program in-between pre-post tests, which also included volleyball specific dual-tasks. The control group did no NeuroTracker training, but completed regular volleyball training.

Controls showed no change in pre-post NeuroTracker baselines, while the active group approximately doubled their NeuroTracker speed thresholds. Near transfer tests for sustained attention and processing speed showed significant gains for the NeuroTracker group only. A far transfer motor-skill test was used but was of insufficient difficulty to signficantly differentiate the active and control groups. The researchers concluded that NeuroTracker provides an example of an effective method for improving athlete's cognitive capacities with an off-court training intervention.

To review the existing perceptual-cognitive research and outline the relevance of NeuroTracker for the performance assessment and enhancement of competitive soccer abilities.

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Several papers published on NeuroTracker were reviewed, including ‘Perceptual-Cognitive Training of Athletes’, ‘3D-Multiple Object Tracking task performance improves passing decision-making accuracy in soccer players’, ‘Visual tracking speed is related to Basketball-specific measures of performance in NBA players’, and ‘Enhancing Cognitive Function Using Perceptual-Cognitive Training’.

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The combined existing research provides significant evidence for the usefulness of perceptualcognitive training to assess and enhance soccer abilities. Cognitive abilities are a significant feature of athletic excellence, and elite soccer players differ in their superior perceptual abilities in comparison to amateur players. NeuroTracker training has been found to improve high-level cognitive abilities known to be central factors in predicting soccer performance. Specifically, research has demonstrated that after just 3 hours of 3D multiple object tracking training, soccer players’ experienced a dramatic reduction in passing errors, from an error rate of 47%, down to just 28%.

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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 physiological and cognitive differences between starters and non-starters in women’s soccer over the course of a season.

28 NCAA Division I female soccer players were tested at preseason and postseason on battery of assessments. This battery included a one session baseline NeuroTracker, vertical jump power, repeated line drills, reaction time, cognitive questionnaires, and finally, muscle architecture changes using ultrasonography.

Over the season, both groups had very similar NeuroTracker baselines, and both group’s speed thresholds improved significantly from pre-season to post-season. As there was no training intervention, the researchers concluded that this improvement effect revealed the positive influence of daily soccer practice on cognitive functions. This suggests NeuroTracker is a sensitive measure of the cumulative effects of sports training over time. These measures contrasted the cognitive questionnaire results, where the soccer player self-reported decreases in energy, focus and alertness, in line with increased fatigue, over the season.

To examine the effects of 14-days ATP supplementation (adenosine 5′-triphosphate) on NeuroTracker visual tracking speed, reaction time, mood and cognition in a double-blind crossover study.

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22 adults were randomized to either an active PeakATP® group or a placebo control group and supplemented for 14-days. They then tested on 3 minutes of maximum intensity cycling. Pre, immediately post, and 60-minutes post, all participants completed a NeuroTracker baseline, a visuomotor reaction test (Dynavision D2), a Profile of Mood States Questionnaire and a cognition assessment (ANAM). After another 14 days of no supplementation, the active and control groups were then reversed and the whole procedure was repeated.

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NeuroTracker results improved on the second testing procedure, however average differences between active and control groups were negligible. No significant interactions were found on the other assessments, apart from reaction time performance, which improved meaningfully with post ATP supplementation. The results suggest ATP may help decrease fatigue related effects from intense bouts of exercise, but not higher-level cognitive functions.

To determine if variance in hydration status would be associated with cognitive performance, as assessed by NeuroTracker.

121 participants performed 15 NeuroTracker sessions across 10 days of visits to the laboratory. On the days of training, recent fluid intake, urine color (Urine color scale, UC), and body water (BIA) were documented.

Individuals with average urine color indicating good hydration performed significantly worse on NeuroTracker than those with a borderline dehydrated indicator, as based on urine color. Participants with no recent beverage consumption performed significantly better than those who had recently consumed water, tea, coffee , and milk. The researchers suggested that optimal hydration may not occur at the highest values of the urine color scale possibly due to moderate hyponatremia and hemodilution that could impact NeuroTracker performance.

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To evaluate perceptual cognitive abilities among male and female adolescents and determine if undiscovered gender differences in athletes’ perceptual cognitive abilities exist.

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40 nonathletes (20 boys and 20 girls) and 40 athletes (21 boys and 19 girls) aged 17-24 years old completed a short questionnaire about their sports practice. All participants then completed three NeuroTracker sessions.

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The findings confirm the superior perceptual cognitive abilities in young athletes relative to nonathletes. However, results also indicate differences in performance patterns between male and female athletes, with male athletes achieving the highest tracking speeds but female athletes showing faster adaptation to the task by the 3rd session. These results demonstrate that sports engagement and perceptual cognitive abilities are strongly related during adolescence and that this relationship seems more prevalent in athletes for this age group.