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

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 if cognitive assessments using NeuroTracker could be predictive of daily trader performance metrics.

29 professional male traders aged between 35 and 65 years old were recruited NeuroStreet Trading Academy over a 9-month period. Using the remote NeuroTrackerX software and anaglyph 3D glasses the traders completed 6-minute assessments each work day, following standardized research protocols. Data from the Ninjatrader Trading Platform was used to record 7 key performance metrics across each day of trading.

NeuroTracker data revealed a high learning response across a total of 624 days of trading. Data analyses showed a strong correlational relationship between daily NeuroTracker baselines and 5 of the trading performance metrics, with Total Net Profit being the most significant. The researchers concluded that a 6-minute NeuroTracker assessment was effective at predicting real-world trading performance on any given day.

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This study sought to investigate the resource limits for dynamic visual attention across age development using NeuroTracker speed thresholds as a measure of attentional capacity.

21 participants were grouped by age: school-aged (6-12 years), adolescent (13-18 years), adult (19-30 years). Each group completed NeuroTracker baselines using speed threshold measurements at progressively increasing numbers of targets.

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For all groups, speed thresholds changed in a logarithmic way consistent with the relative increase in multiple object tracking demands. Attentional capacities for NeuroTracker were determined by age, with significantly lower multiple object tracking limits for school-aged individuals. The findings also suggested that the 3D stereo component of NeuroTracker is a critical enabling factor for processing greater attentional loads: school-aged individuals could track numbers of targets beyond the limits of 2D non-stereo (as established in previous studies). These findings suggest that NeuroTracker can be used for characterizing the development of resource allocation in attentional processes through the use of a measure that best approximates real-world conditions.

To examine the practical efficacy of cognitive enhancement interventions through a gold-standard template for assessing use of such tools, and to assess NeuroTracker evidence against the template for enhancing attention, working memory and visual information processing speed.

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To assess cognitive tools and NeuroTracker specifically against the following gold-standard criteria and with qEEG findings on changes in neuroelectric brain activity: 1. Robust transfer effects, 2. No Side Effects or Risk of Toxicity, 3. Minimal time and monetary investment, 4) Lasting effects, 5) No ethical issues, 6) Can be used in combination with other interventions, 7) Can be applied to any population.

3-hours of training over 5-weeks with NeuroTracker demonstrated robust effects on attention, working memory, and visual information processing speed as measured by neuropsychological tests. Corresponding changes measured by qEEG were also corroborated these intervention effects. NeuroTracker was concluded to meet the gold standard criteria in points 1, 2, 3, and 5, with some evidence to support the other points, but further research needed.

Several studies have shown that aerobic exercise can slow age-related cognitive decline, and in some cases, improve cognitive function in the older population. The purpose of this study was to investigate for the first time, the effects of resistance training on cognitive function, as measured by changes in NeuroTracker measures.

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25 older adults with a mean age of 70yrs were split into a trained group (6 weeks of resistance exercises), and an untrained group. Perceptual-cognitive ability was measured pre and post training using NeuroTracker baselines.

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The older adults who performed six weeks of resistance training experienced significant improvements in perceptual-cognitive function as measured by NeuroTracker. Resistance training may therefore be an effective means to slow age related cognitive decline.

To assess the learning capacities of elite athlete populations compared to amateur athletes and nonathlete university students on a neutral cognitive training assessment (NeuroTracker).

308 participants were assessed by completing 15 distributed NeuroTracker sessions, grouped as the following: 102 professional elite athletes (NHL, EPL and Top 14 Rugby), 173 NCAA elite non-professional athletes, and 33 non-athlete university students.

The results showed a clear distinction between level of athletic performance and corresponding fundamental mental capacities for learning a demanding abstract and dynamic scene task. Elite athletes showed significantly higher initial baselines than the other groups, along with substantially superior learning rates. The elite non-professional athletes also similarly significantly higher learning rates over the non-athletes group. For the first time this evidence suggest that a defining characteristic of elite professional athletes is their perceptual-cognitive learning prowess, associated with unusually high levels of neuroplasticity, and that NeuroTracker is a sensitive tool for objectively assessing these abilities.

This exploratory study sought to evaluate the relationship between spatial awareness, agility, and distance covered as measured by GPS.

12 American collegiate athletes were assessed on spatial awareness (NeuroTracker: 1 Core session),agility (Pro-agility and T Drill), and then measured for running distance in a competitive Rubgy match at low, moderate and high intensity running speeds.

Agility measures did not correlate with any of the running speeds, and the spatial awareness measure did not correlate with low or high intensity running. However spatial awareness did correlate significantly with moderate intensity running (cruising/striding). Spatial awareness, as measured by NeuroTracker, appears to be related to the moderate intensity movement patterns of rugby union athletes. The researchers hypothesize that the ability to track teammates and opponents while at striding speed may be result of the processing of external and internal stimuli, while generally attempting to navigate open space on the pitch.

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.

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.