The Cognitive Edge: Improving sports performance through brain training
Achieving peak sports performance isn’t solely about physical prowess. It demands a robust set of cognitive functions such as attention, decision-making and working memory, especially in high-pressure scenarios. These mental skills are crucial in every aspect of athletic performance, from making split-second decisions to executing complex movements with precision.
A recent study focusing on NBA basketball players highlights just how pivotal cognitive functions are. Researchers discovered that players with superior cognitive tracking abilities demonstrated improved assist-to-turnover ratios and made fewer errors. This highlights the significant role cognitive skills play enhancing performance and reducing mistakes.
One of the key cognitive functions in sports is perception. Athletes with heightened perceptual skills can swiftly and accurately interpret visual cues, such as an opponent’s movements or the trajectory of a ball. This skill allows them to anticipate actions and make rapid decisions, which can provide a crucial edge in competitive scenarios.
In all sports, decision-making is paramount. Athletes must evaluate multiple factors in real-time, including the positions of teammates and opponents, the current game situation and strategic options. Enhanced cognitive abilities allow these variables to be processed more efficiently leading to better performance outcomes.
However, cognitive performance, much like physical performance, can be compromised by fatigue. Research from the University of Birmingham has revealed that mental fatigue increased the perception of exertion among participants during physical tasks, even if their performance remained constant. In short, when their brains became tired, everything seemed harder!
Beyond decision making, effective movement control and skill execution rely heavily on brain function. Athletes must coordinate complex movements with precision, utilizing processes such as attention, memory and executive function. The brain’s role in these tasks is critical and athletes with superior cognitive skills can execute movements more accurately and efficiently potentially enhancing performance and reducing in jury risk.
Welcome to Neurotracker
Enter Neurotracker, a groundbreaking cognitive enhancement program designed to optimize neurological performance. Developed from over two decades of research by neuroscience Professor Jocelyn Faubert, Neurotracker is used by elite athletes across various sports, including the NBA, EPL, NHL, NFL and Formula One.
Neurotracker involves tracking multiple moving objects on a screen designed to challenge the user’s peripheral vision and cognitive processing abilities. Once setup specifically for the individual athlete, the program adapts to the user’s skill level ensuring continuous cognitive development.
Studies have demonstrated that Neurotracker training enhances cognitive functions like attention, processing speed and decision-making. Research with elite rugby players indicated that physical fatigue did not significantly impair cognitive function in those who had undergone Neurotracker training, suggesting improved cognitive resilience. Similarly, an NBA study revealed that players with higher Neurotracker scores had better assist-to-turnover ratios.
Moreover, Neurotracker’s benefits extend beyond sports. A study involving children showed that just two hours of training over several weeks significantly improved attention. Another study noted increased brain wave activity and neuroplasticity in adults further highlighting the program’s broad cognitive benefits.
The Path Forward
Neurotracker’s visual-cognitive training engages various brain functions by requiring users to track multiple objects in 3D. This seemingly simple task stimulates different cognitive processes enhancing skills crucial for performance. By integrating sport-specific actions into the Neurotracker training we can provide a tailored individual approach to cognitive enhancement.
If you’d love to start using the Neurotracker program to enhance your performance simply click here to contact us.
Need more information? Download our Guide to “Enhancing Neurocognition in Sport” – click here.
Want to know more about how you can use Neurotracker to enhance your brain health and performance? Just click here.
