September 2020
in
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
To examine if β-Alanine supplementation can increase brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) to benefit cognition and mood under anticipatory stress prior to simulated military operations.
19 healthy males were randomized into and active group (14 days of β-Alanine Supplementation) and a placebo group. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included NeuroTracker baselines, visuomotor reaction time (Dynavision™), mathematical processing (Serial Subtraction Test), and neuropsychological assessments (ANAM™). Mood was assessed using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire.
No change in measures of cognitive function or BDNF concentrations were observed. However, the active group experienced significant reductions in subjective feelings of depression.
NeuroTracker training reveals some moderate benefits for the decision-making abilities of law enforcement officers engaged in active duty.
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.
NeuroTracker baselines more sensitively detect effects on cognition than other cognitive assessments after open heart surgery.
To examine whether cognitive baselines can be used to detect changes in cognitive function in open-heart surgery patients.
16 open-heart surgery patients (av. 60 years) completed NeuroTracker, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Trails B assessments at 3 time points: 1 to 2 days pre-surgery, at discharge or 1-week post-surgery, and at 12-weeks post-surgery.
No significant differences were detected between baseline and 1-week/discharge measurements on all measures. Patients improved significantly from 1-week/discharge to 12-weeks in NeuroTracker baseline scores. A similar but non-significant trend was found on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The researchers concluded that post-surgical cognitive changes in heart surgery patients were detectable using NeuroTracker, and that future research should explore whether it is usable for the retraining of cognition after heart surgery.
Children undergoing cancer therapy show cognitive responsiveness to a NeuroTracker training intervention, but with effects varying with age.
To assess the feasibility of NeuroTracker training for this population and the potential cognitive effects of treatment therapy.
40 patients with CNS tumors aged 6–18 years completed 6 block of NeuroTracker training sessions.
Patients aged 10-17 years old responded well to the NeuroTracker training, improving their performance on this task by around 50%-90%. However patients under 9 years of age showed negligible improvements (atypical for subjects of this age). The results may indicate that the young children may be more cognitively sensitive to this type of antitumor therapy.
To evaluate the potential for sports vision training to improve objective and subjective visuomotor function in a low vision patient.
A 37-year-old woman with Usher syndrome underwent a 14-week sports vision training program with pre-post cognitive assessments.
The patient was able to improve the use of remaining visual abilities. A 27 to 31% improvement in hand-eye coordination was achieved along with a 41% improvement NeuroTracker performance. The patient also subjectively reported clear improvements in visual abilities. The researcher concluded sports vision training may reduce the impact of the reduced visual function and aid in activities of daily living.
NeuroTracker is a viable tool for training cognitive functions in MS patients, with potential transfer to improve real-life functioning.
To assess the usability of NeuroTracker in patients with MS and their responsiveness to cognitive training effects. Standardized neuropyschological assessments and a driving readiness test (Useful Field of View).
16 patients with MS and 9 age-matched controls completed four 30-minute NeuroTracker training sessions.
MS patients scored lower than controls, however their scores improved at the same rate, suggesting a healthy response to training. Pre-post Neuropsychological assessments showed non-significant changes from training effects, with small to medium effect sizes. For the MS group, the driving readiness test showed a significant increase post-training. The researchers concluded that NeuroTracker can be used to train cognitive skills in patients with MS and may improve may improve real-life functioning such as driving safety.
Individual with Autism can perform NeuroTracker at different cognitive loads and benefit from feedback at low difficulty levels.
To investigate the cognitive characteristics of individuals with with Autism compared to neurotypical individuals in response to different NeuroTracker loads and feedback.
27 adolescents and adults with Autism and 28 neurotypical adolescents and adults ASD were tasked with performing NeuroTracker at low load (1-target tracking) and high load (4-target tracking) across two sessions of training. Half of the participants received feedback on each trial, and half did not.
Although participants with Autism scored lower than neurotypicals, high load sessions were tolerated equally in comparison to low load sessions. Feedback improved NeuroTracker performance overall, except for participants with Autism on the high load sessions. Participants with Autism receiving feedback scored better than neurotypical participants without feedback, but only on the low load sessions. The results suggest that individuals with Autism can perform NeuroTracker at different loads, and that feedback aids performance at low difficulty levels.
The #1 Most Scientifically Validated Cognitive Training System in the world. Built on 20 years of neuroscience research by leading authorities in their fields. Improve your brain and performance.
.png)