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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 investigate the relationship of executive functions and physical abilities in youth and adult elite soccer players.

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172 elite soccer players (12–34 years of age) were assessed on NeuroTracker, working memory capacity, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition. Another series of tests measured endurance-performance, repeated intense exercises, and maximal anaerobic performance.

NeuroTracker results correlated meaningfully with 30M sprint ability and counter-movement jumps. Moderate correlations were found between working memory capacity and cognitive flexibility with sprint performance and jumping ability, and inhibition with repeated intense exercises. Overall the findings indicated that anaerobic sprinting and jumping are more closely linked to cognitive skills than other physical abilities.

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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 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 investigate if NeuroTracker training can improve archery concentration performance at moment of shooting.

20 archers in an archery club were divided into two control groups. Over 12 visits the one group completed NeuroTracker training, while the other group completed conventional archery training. Pre-post assessments of concentration were completed by both groups using the Concentration Grid Test.

‍There was a significant transfer effect from both the NeuroTracker training and the conventional training on the improvement of the archery athlete’s concentration, however NeuroTracker training demonstrated stronger post-training improvements on the Concentration Grid Test across mean, standard deviation and gain scores. The researchers conclude NeuroTracker could be an effective training method to improve the concentration of archery athletes.

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 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 assess the extent to which action video game players perform better than non-gamers on cognitive functions measured by NeuroTracker and neuropsychological assessments.

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14 professional and 16 amateur action video game players completed a battery of 7 standardized neuropsychological assessments, a manual dexterity test, and 14 NeuroTracker sessions. Statistical analysis techniques were used to compare cognitive differences.

Analysis revealed that high performance in professional action video games players is associated with enhanced abilities in visual spatial attention, visual and auditory short-term memory, and selective and sustained attention. No significant differences between professionals and amateurs were evident on tasks evaluating executive functions, perceptual manipulation, or manual dexterity. Although both groups displayed a similar learning capacity to improve at NeuroTracker over 90-mins of training, professionals exhibited a distinct performance advantage throughout the intervention. The results overall suggest that elite action video gamers have superior attentional control.

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.