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

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).

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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 determine if variance in hydration status would be associated with cognitive performance, as assessed by NeuroTracker.

121 participants performed 15 NeuroTracker sessions across 10 days of visits to the laboratory. On the days of training, recent fluid intake, urine color (Urine color scale, UC), and body water (BIA) were documented.

Individuals with average urine color indicating good hydration performed significantly worse on NeuroTracker than those with a borderline dehydrated indicator, as based on urine color. Participants with no recent beverage consumption performed significantly better than those who had recently consumed water, tea, coffee , and milk. The researchers suggested that optimal hydration may not occur at the highest values of the urine color scale possibly due to moderate hyponatremia and hemodilution that could impact NeuroTracker performance.

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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.

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 investigate how perceptual–cognitive performance is affected during high-intensity interval training (HIIT) using NeuroTracker(NT) assessments.

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42 healthy adults were randomly assigned to an intervention (HIIT + NT, NT, HIIT) or control group. NT performance was measured pre-and post-test at 5, 15, and 25 min while running on a treadmill. The participants trained twice a week for a 4-week intervention period.

There was a significant interaction effect between pre/post-test and groups regarding perceptual-cognitive performance, indicating similar enhancements in the HIIT + NT and the NT group during exercise. HIIT influences physical fitness but did not show any impact on perceptual–cognitive performance. Overall training resulted in substantial task-specific gains. The researchers suggest combination training may be proposed as a training program to improve perceptual–cognitive, and physical performance in a time-efficient way.

This case report sought to examine in detail the effects of a combined intervention program (NeuroTracker and Memory Training) for recovering memory and attentional functions in an older individual.

1 healthy 80 year old male with frequent memory complaints underwent 32 NeuroTracker sessions of Sustain mode over 12 months, alongside Memory Training based on consciously learned mnemonic strategies. The patient completed a robust pre-mid-post training battery of tests on memory, quality of life and stress.

At the post-assessment stage, training proved effective for gains in sustained and alternatingattention, with above-average cognitive flexibility. Assessments for memory accuracy and processingspeeds showed a steadily rising curve. Improvements were evident in self-perceived attention,memory, quality of life and self-confidence. A reduction in stress symptoms was observed withmeasured improvements in physical, psychological and environmental domains. NeuroTracker scoresshowed a rising curve throughout the training program.Based on the case report findings, the researchers suggested such cognitive training programs shouldbe made available in private and public institutions for elderly care to improve quality of life and delaythe signs of senility during the aging process.

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.

Several studies have shown that aerobic exercise can slow age-related cognitive decline, and in some cases, improve cognitive function in the older population. The purpose of this study was to investigate for the first time, the effects of resistance training on cognitive function, as measured by changes in NeuroTracker measures.

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25 older adults with a mean age of 70yrs were split into a trained group (6 weeks of resistance exercises), and an untrained group. Perceptual-cognitive ability was measured pre and post training using NeuroTracker baselines.

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The older adults who performed six weeks of resistance training experienced significant improvements in perceptual-cognitive function as measured by NeuroTracker. Resistance training may therefore be an effective means to slow age related cognitive decline.