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

This study measured the capacity of older participants to improve their tracking speed thresholds (NeuroTracker), to investigate if age related cognitive decline can be reversed with a training intervention known to be directly relevant to the effects of healthy aging.

20 healthy younger adults (mean age 24 years old) and 20 healthy older adults (mean age 67 years old) performed 15 NeuroTracker training sessions distributed over 5 weeks.

Both groups obtained benefit from training with a similar rate of progression. Though the older group started off at a significantly lower level than the younger group, they obtained speed thresholds that were similar to those of untrained younger adults by the end of the training program. Furthermore, towards the end of the training program the rate of learning appeared to have slowed for the younger group, yet the older group still showed a strong learning curve, suggesting greater improvements with continued training. In conclusion, although healthy older people show a significant age-related deficit in the NeuroTracker task, they respond strongly to training effects and demonstrate an ability to fully reverse age-related functional decline with a short intervention of NeuroTracker training.

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).

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.

Working Memory (WM) capacity has been linked to performance on a wide range of elementary and higher order cognitive tasks. Due to evidence suggesting that NeuroTracker speed thresholds are an indicator of the quality of high-level brain function, and because it is an adaptive task, the researchers selected NeuroTracker to investigate whether training could improve WM capacities. A further reason was to test a training approach with short intervention times for practical military implementations for the Canadian Armed Forces.

41 soldiers in the Canadian Armed Forces volunteered for the study. First they were tested on three WM span tasks: word (verbal) span, matrix span, and visual span, establishing a baseline measure for each test. Participants were then distributed evenly into 3 groups based on demographic and cognitive factors,Experimental group: performed 10 NeuroTracker Core sessions over a 2 week periodActive control group: performed an adaptive dual n-back task over a 2 week period Passive control group: No activity over a 2 week periodAt the end of the two weeks, the three WM span tests were retaken.

For the NeuroTracker group, speeds thresholds increased considerably over the 10 sessions, and training resulted in a significant pre-post increase in word span, matrix span, and visual span, with medium to large effect sizes. In contrast, for the active control, group training did not alter any of the WM span measures. Similarly, WM span measures did not alter for the passive control group. The researchers concluded that a short amount of NeuroTracker training can benefit WM capacity in a military sample. Additionally, the consistent NeuroTracker improvements across each type of WM span reflect a primarily domain-general construct (a generality of WM capacity).

‍

To investigate if beef and beef-related nutrient intake can explain the variance in visual cognitive performance in young females.

52 college age women performed 15 NeuroTracker sessions over 15 days with normal eating habits, as a preliminary study. Then 80 college age women were randomized in an RCT study to either a daily beef or veggie patty and consumed 1 patty/day for 30 days, and assessed with NeuroTracker.

In the preliminary study, higher iron, cholesterol, choline, arginine and B vitamins levels were all significantly associated with higher NeuroTracker scores. In the RCT study, the beef group demonstrated higher average NeuroTracker scores. The researchers suggest that increased intake of beef associated nutrients may increase visual cognitive performance in college age women.

To compare performance and muscle architecture changes in starters and nonstarters during a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's soccer season.

‍

28 females (av. 20 years old) were assessed on NeuroTracker baselines, vertical jump power, repeated line drills and reaction time at preseason, midseason, and postseason. Muscle architecture changes using ultrasonography were assessed at preseason and postseason.

‍

Both starters and non-starters showed similar status or improvements on all assessments across the season, except for line drills performance, which showed greater improvements for starters. NeuroTracker and reaction time performance improved regardless of playtime. Results of muscle architecture analysis indicated that practice training alone provide sufficient stimulus for improving muscle quality during the competitive season. Overall starters did not display significant benefits from competition over athletes who performed training only.

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.

‍

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.

‍

To examine whether individuals who play video games at a professional level in the esports industry differ from amateur video game players in their cognitive and learning abilities.

14 elite professional gamers and 16 casual video game players were assessed on a battery of standard neuropsychological tests evaluating processing speed, attention, memory, executive functions, and manual dexterity. In addition, both groups completed 15 distributed NeuroTracker sessions to assess dynamic visual attention and learning abilities.

Professional players showed the largest performance advantage relative to amateur players for visual spatial memory (Spatial Span), and with more modest benefits for selective and sustained attention (d2 Test of Attention), and auditory working memory (Digit Span). Professional players also had greatly higher initial speed thresholds on NeuroTracker, with the advantage increasing marginally over the 15 sessions. Overall, the cognitive assessments differentiated the professional and amateur groups, however there was negligible correlation with these results in terms of gaming experience in either group. In conclusion, standardized cognitive assessments revealed some elevated abilities of pro gamers, however NeuroTracker baselines and learning rates provided much more sensitive comparative measures.

To investigate playing sports influences cognitive capacities measured by NeuroTracker, as well as to see if such effects differs between young males and females.

‍

72 individuals aged 16 to 22 were split into 4 groups: male athletes, female athletes, male non-athletes and female non-athletes. All groups performed 15 sessions of NeuroTracker (approximately 90-mins) over 5 weeks.

All groups showed significant improvements across the NeuroTracker training. Initially, male athletes demonstrated higher performance compared to their female counterparts and non-athletes. The female athletes also maintained consistently higher scores than male non-athletes, as did male athletes over other groups. Overall, a clear cognitive advantage was associated with engaging in sports.