NeurotrackerX Cognitive Enhancement study

Performance optimization can be brought about by improving/training the handling of stressful situations. Training can focus on improving performance on the (perceptual-cognitive) tasks themselves, or on skills that allow people to better deal with the associated stressors. An additional possibility concerns the strengthening of mental skills as a result of the improvement of internal or external information processing processes, also known as cognitive enhancement. Cognitive enhancement has received increasing attention in recent years through multiple systematic reviews (including Kelly et al., 2019 and Blacker et al., 2019) These showed that especially task-specific training leads to consistent, positive results, in particular on attention, working memory and spatial cognition. Blacker et al. (2019) conclude that working memory training has a clear effect on near-transfer tasks, and should also be used for that purpose. Future studies should however look at how and to what extent the improvement resulting from working memory training on near transfer tasks translates into practical, 'real-world' applications and outcomes. A specific training form that could be suitable for this is the Neurotracker training program (NTX). NTX claims that by means of an adaptive 3D multi-object tracking task, both the capacity and the processing speed of the working memory are trained. The program was originally developed in Canada (University of Montreal) as a perceptual-cognitive skills training program with the aim of promoting the performance of athletes. The underlying idea is that tracking multiple objects triggers multifocal attention mechanisms, anticipation, and adequate decision making. By means of the training, other mental/cognitive skills such as attention, processing visual information and working memory are stimulated (Parsons et al., 2016). In this study we aim to investigate, by means of a scientifically designed experiment (RCT), whether we can repeat the results described above in gamers, and find out if a transfer to real life specific performance takes place.

The NTX intervention training leads to significant increase in both near and far transfer outcomes, in comparison with the effects of a training of an active control group.

Baseline measurement (T0), training of 4 weeks, post-measurement (T1)

The perceptual-cognitive NTX intervention has been developed in Canada, and consists of a digital, 3D multiple object tracking task, aimed to enhance both the capacity and the processing speed of the working memory. A basic training program consist of 30 trials of 5 minutes each. Within those trials, participants have to track and follow multiple objects during 8 seconds.