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To analyze the effectiveness of NeuroTracker training to improve sports vision and cognitive performance using a progressive single and dual-task training protocol.

37 elite water polo (13), taekwondo (12) and tennis elite athletes (12) completed 26 NeuroTracker sessions progressing from single-task training to progressively complex dual-task training. Pre and post training all athletes underwent a comprehensive battery of optometric vision assessments. Throughout the training program both athletes and their coaches completed frequent visual-analogue questionnaire assessments to assess changes in concentration, perception speed and peripheral vision performance.

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Overall NeuroTracker learning rates were high. Although scores initially dropped on progressing to more complex dual-task motor-skills, performance recovered quickly to the level expected with single-task performance. This that dual-task training methods with NeuroTracker can efficiently consolidate new skills into using a progressive overload methodology. Post-training assessments revealed a statistically significant gains in most visual abilities, including static visual acuity, stereopsis, spatial contrast sensitivity, saccadic ocular movements, and visual selective attention. Transfer to related sports performance abilities was seen with both coach and athlete questionnaire assessments, with consistently significant improvements throughout the program. Although the athletes tended to rate their performance higher than coaches, their improvement ratings were close to identical.

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 evaluate the impact of the nutritional impact of dietary intake of whole eggs, egg white, and egg yolk on visual cognitive performance (NeuroTracker) in healthy older adults.

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99 healthy men and women aged 50 to 75 years were randomly assigned to one of five groups with different daily consumption of eggs alongside a record of their usual dietary intake. Over 1-month period participants either consumed four egg whites, two whole regular eggs, two whole omega-3-fortified eggs, four egg yolks, or no eggs (control). During the final 2 weeks of the study all participants completed 15 NeuroTracker.

On average male participants performed significantly better at NeuroTracker than females. All participants on egg-based diets performed significantly better across 2-weeks of NeuroTracker training than the no-egg controls. Findings suggest that whole eggs, egg whites and egg yolks are beneficial for visual cognitive performance in healthy older adults.

To examine the influence of nutritional intake on visual perceptual-cognitive performance, measured by NeuroTracker, in young healthy adults.

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98 healthy men (38) and women (60) aged 18–33 years maintained their usual dietary intake while completing NeuroTracker 15 sessions of NeuroTracker over a 15-day period. Food logs and extensive lifestyle measures including body composition, cardiovascular health, sleep and exercise patterns, and general readiness to perform were collected for analysis.

Males consumed significantly more calories, macronutrients, cholesterol, choline, and zinc and performed significantly better on NeuroTracker than the females. Participants who consumed more than 40% of kcals from carbohydrates, less than 24% of kcals from protein, more than 2,000 μg/day lutein/zeaxanthin or more than 1.8 mg/ day of vitamin B2 performed significantly better on NeuroTracker than those who consumed less than those amounts. The researchers concluded that perceptual-cognitive performance is positively influenced by higher carbohydrate, lutein/ zeaxanthin, and vitamin B2 dietary intake, while high protein consumption had negative impacts.

To investigate if NeuroTracker training can improve perceptual-cognitive skills related to decision-making skills for law enforcement officers.

40 elite law enforcement officers completed a pre-post test experiment on a video based simulated task environment to establish baseline scores for situational awareness, anticipation and decision-making skills. Participants were randomly assigned to training, control and passive groups. The training group completed NeuroTracker sessions around duty schedules over a period of three-weeks. Pre- and post-testing was scored by five police procedures subject-matter-experts.

The simulated task results showed an average decline in scores, the control participants remained unchanged, while the NeuroTracker group showed moderate increases. Improvements in NeuroTracker scores were observed overall, but varied atypically. Although some far transfer effects to law enforcement decision-making abilities were seen, fatigue and stress-related effects of active duty may have influenced results.

To determine timeframes required for baseline updates for NeuroTracker and ImPACT, based on long-term retest reliability.

At the start of two consecutive seasons, 30 athletes with no recent history of mTBI completed baseline assessments of NeuroTracker and ImPACT. The test–retest reliability of the results was assessed via three different statistical analyses.

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The Visual Motor Speed composite score of the ImPACT was the only component of the assessment with outcomes with acceptable retest reliability. NeuroTracker baselines also met these standards. The researchers concluded that NeuroTracker has an acceptable level of test–retest reliability after one year in comparison to ImPACT.

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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.

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 if NeuroTracker training could positively influence a number of assessments known to be reliable indicators of fall-risk in older adults.

25 elderly residents (av. 80 years old) of a day care facility were divided into active and control groups. The active group completed a NeuroTracker (3D-MOT) training intervention over 5 weeks, along with a batter of pre and post training assessments relevant to fall-risk. The control group did no NeuroTracker training, but also completed all the pre and post assessments. These included the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Trail Making Test A (TMT-A), 5 meter walking ability, dynamic balance ability, the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and the Function Reach Test (FRT).

Overall the participants improved significantly on NeuroTracker scores (+32%), demonstrating a clear learning capacity for this task in old age. The MMSE (a screening test) showed no significant changes for both groups. The NeuroTracker group experienced significant or large post-test improvements on TMT-A, 5 meter walking time, TUG and FRT. In contrast, controls experienced a moderate or significant decline in TMT-A, TUG and FRT, but a significant improvement in walking time.Overall the researchers conclude that NeuroTracker training offers an effective intervention for preventing falls in an elderly community dwelling.