December 2018
in
Preprint
To assess the inhibitory effects of physiological fatigue on cognitive function in elite athletes, and to determine if perceptual-cognitive conditioning can reduce any such effects.
22 rugby players from the Top 14 French Professional Rugby League were divided into two groups. The trained group underwent 15 NeuroTracker Core training sessions, and the untrained group did only 3 Core sessions (sitting) to determine an initial baseline measure. All the athletes were then assessed on NeuroTracker while performing on an exercise bike at 80% of their maximum heartrate.
For the trained group, NeuroTracker speed thresholds remained within 0.03% of the range of their baseline (performed sitting). For the untrained group, NeuroTracker speed thresholds dropped by 30% from their predicted baseline. Firstly, the findings suggest that physical fatigue can significantly reduce high-level cognitive functions elicited by the NeuroTracker task, even with seasoned professionals. Secondly, the results also indicate that such effects can be mitigated with prior perceptual-cognitive conditioning, with as little as 90 minutes of distributed training.
NeuroTracker baselines are significantly more accurate at detecting mTBI status 48-hours post-injury and RTP readiness than traditional assessments.
To investigate if the major need for more effective concussion assessment tools in sports can by be addressed by NeuroTracker, and to compare any differences with traditionally used assessments.
59 professional athletes were tested with NeuroTracker (3 Core sessions), the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), and the Modified Balance Error Scoring System (M-BESS) tests, each at 48 hours following a concussion injury. The tests were repeated at return-to-play (RTP) status following a standard concussion management protocol. The majority of athletes were classed with severe concussions, as determined by an expert neurologist. Additionally, normative NeuroTracker data for healthy elite athletes was used for analytical reference, along with pre-season baselines on SAC and M-BESS tests for 32 out of the 59 of the injured athletes.
Multiple statistical analyses of the tests revealed the following. Compared to health athletes, the learning function within the 48 hours of concussion was totally disrupted for the injured athletes. NeuroTracker scores at 48 hours were significantly lower than normal, and correlated to the total number of symptoms reported. NeuroTracker scores for the RTP evaluations revealed a significant improvement in NeuroTracker scores (though still below healthy athlete levels). In comparison the SAC and M-BESS tests’ usefulness for monitoring concussion was found to be weak, with limited or negligible correlation to pre-season baselines, as corroborated in other studies. For the first time, this study demonstrates the unique role of NeuroTracker to monitor sport-related concussion, addressing some of the requirements needed to appropriately respond to real-world sport-specific demands.
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.
NeuroTracker baseline reveal stroboscopic vision training does not improve perceptual-cognitive skills, but may aid anticipation skills.
To analyze the repeated effect of stroboscopic vision training on perceptual-cognitive and anticipation skills in soccer players.
28 male soccer players randomized into two groups: Stroboscopic vision training and control groups. The trained group completed 8-weeks of stroboscopic training. Pre post assessments were completed for both groups, which included NeuroTracker baselines and assessments decision-making and anticipation skills.
Both groups improved by similar amounts in NeuroTracker baselines and decision-making. However the trained group showed a larger improvement in anticipation skill than the control group. The findings suggest that stroboscopic vision training does not improve perceptual-cognitive functions or decision-making, but may aid anticipation skills in soccer athletes.
To examine the effects of 14-days ATP supplementation (adenosine 5′-triphosphate) on NeuroTracker visual tracking speed, reaction time, mood and cognition in a double-blind crossover study.
22 adults were randomized to either an active PeakATP® group or a placebo control group and supplemented for 14-days. They then tested on 3 minutes of maximum intensity cycling. Pre, immediately post, and 60-minutes post, all participants completed a NeuroTracker baseline, a visuomotor reaction test (Dynavision D2), a Profile of Mood States Questionnaire and a cognition assessment (ANAM). After another 14 days of no supplementation, the active and control groups were then reversed and the whole procedure was repeated.
NeuroTracker results improved on the second testing procedure, however average differences between active and control groups were negligible. No significant interactions were found on the other assessments, apart from reaction time performance, which improved meaningfully with post ATP supplementation. The results suggest ATP may help decrease fatigue related effects from intense bouts of exercise, but not higher-level cognitive functions.
NeuroTracker and neuropsychological assessments reveal cognitive functions relate to sprinting and jumping abilities in elite soccer players.
To investigate the relationship of executive functions and physical abilities in youth and adult elite soccer players.
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.
A NeuroTracker training intervention combined with adapted performance programs improves the competition results of mountain runners.
To investigate if comprehensive physical and cognitiveassessments can help improve the competitive performance of elite mountainsrunners.
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.
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