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To investigate if a short NeuroTracker training intervention could improve high-level cognitive abilities in elderly populations.

46 participants, aged 63-87 years old completed pre-and-post neuropsychological assessments for selective attention, psychomotor speed, and cognitive flexibility. Active participants completed 21 NeuroTracker sessions (approx. 2 hours of training) over 7 weeks, between pre-and-posts tests. Controls did no training.

Controls showed no change in pre and post tests. In contrast the active NeuroTracker group experienced significant gains in cognitive flexibility, psychomotor speed, and selective attention, and similar improvements in a combined assessment of psychomotor speed and cognitive flexibility.The researchers concluded that NeuroTracker presents a promising tool for recovering and improving these high-level cognitive abilities in older populations.

This study investigated the effects of a simulated game-situation cognitive load (NeuroTracker) on lower limb biomechanics, using a landing task relevant to straining of the Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). ACL injuries are known to be one of the most sports common injuries, and occurrence has been linked to cognitive factors.

7 college level healthy athletes (soccer, volleyball, football) performed 16 single-leg landing trials involving a jump forward and a lateral jump to the opposing leg. These movements were measured via force plates and motion capture of the legs and pelvis using 36 markers. The NeuroTracker task was assigned randomly to half of the trials (dual-task procedure), with jumps performed during the tracking phase.

While NeuroTracking hip and/or knee kinematics measurements were significantly different for all participants. The largest change was found with knee abduction angle, known to be most associated to ACL injury. Of the 7 participants, 4 showed biomechanical changes from the added NeuroTracker task that revealed increased ACL strain associated with ACL injury. Based on the preliminary findings, the researchers hypothesize that a NeuroTracker training intervention may reduce risk on of non-contact ACL injury, and will perform a larger study with more detailed biomechanical analysis.

To investigate if cognitive training programs can reduce expected cognitive decline associated with aging.

44 participants of 60 years or older were equally divided into an experimental (with NeuroTracker) and a comparative group (without NeuroTracker) and completed 12 training sessions per week. Both groups practiced mnemonic memory training techniques. Pre and post assessments were also conducted, including a a sociodemographic questionnaire, neuropsychological assessment and NeuroTracker pre and post baseline measures.

Both groups experienced some benefits from the memory training, however only the NeuroTracker trained group achieved transfer benefits for attention, reaction time, visual processing speed, episodic, semantic, subjective and working memory as well as aspects of social cognition. The researchers concluded that NeuroTracker with memory training contributed to significantly improved cognitive performance over memory training alone, and that more research should be conducted for elderly populations with and without cognitive deficits.

Attention and feedback are known to play critical roles in learning. This preliminary study sought to assess the benefits of instant feedback within NeuroTracker task performance.

38 young adults (mean 23yrs old) completed 4 NeuroTracker sessions over two days. 19 participants were assisted with feedback on test performance throughout the sessions, and 19 were given no feedback. Pre and post training assessments were completed using the Continuous Performance Test II to measure cognitive function.

The participants assisted with feedback demonstrated greater improvement in NeuroTracker scores over the 4 sessions. The feedback group also demonstrated better transferability effects to the CPT-II task, reflected by a significantly decreased pre/post mean error rate. The results indicate that feedback has a positive effect on performance and may be an important aspect of transfer to cognitive functions.

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 investigate how attentionally based performance and learning is affected when audio stimuli is present in athletic populations.

Twenty USPORT level football athletes (mean age = 20.5yrs) completed in 18 sessions of NeuroTracker Training. Ten athletes completed the training in a dark room with no external noise (had noise cancelling headphones). The other ten athletes completed the training in the same room but were exposed to a consistent simulated crowd noise.

No significant differences in NeuroTracker initial baselines were found between the two groups were found. However, after the 18 training sessions, the mean NeuroTracker score for the noise group was 2.07 (SD = 0.24). In contrast the no noise group averaged significantly slower at 1.77 (SD = 0.32). Although studies show that noise can inhibit attentional processing, this study indicates that presence of the simulated crowd noise may enhance the ecological validity of NeuroTracker training for athlete populations.

To investigate if NeuroTracker training can transfer to improved driving skills as measured by state-of-the-art driving simulators.

20 young adults and 14 older adults were divided into active and active-control groups. The active group completed 30 sessions of NeuroTracker training. Before and after training all participants were assessed using a high-fidelity driving simulator, which measured numerous aspects of driving performance.

The results of the study revealed that both young and older adults showed significant improvements in simulated driving performance following the NeuroTracker training. Specifically this included better lane keeping abilities, quicker reaction times to hazards, and enhanced overall situational awareness. The older adult group exhibited larger overall gains in driving performance. The researchers concluded that this study provides preliminary evidence that NeuroTracker training may improve driving safety, particularly through quicker detection of or reaction to dangerous events.

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.

To compare the efficacy of NeuroTracker training for concentration and game performance to conventional training.

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21 university basketball athletes were divided into a NeuroTracker training group (12 sessions) or a conventional training group. The Concentration Grid Test was used to measure concentration, and FIBA-Live Stats were collected to evaluate the game statistics and athlete performance, both pre- and post-training.

NeuroTracker training resulted in 42% greater improvement in post-training Concentration Grid Test results, compared to conventional training. No substantial improvements in game performance were found with either form of training.