FAQ
NeuroTracker Knowledge
What is NeuroTracker?
NeuroTracker is a cognitive training system designed to enhance various brain functions and cognitive skills. Here are the key aspects of NeuroTracker:
Core Concept
NeuroTracker is a 3D multiple object tracking (3D MOT) exercise where users visually track moving targets in a virtual environment. The task involves:
Viewing a set of spheres moving randomly on a screen
Tracking specific highlighted target spheres as they move among distractors
Identifying the correct targets when the movement stops
Training Process
Sessions typically last 6 minutes and can be done on tablets, laptops, or TVs
The system adjusts speed and difficulty based on the user's performance
Recommended usage is 2-3 times per week
The core training program comprises 30 sessions over about 3 months
Key Benefits
Attention and focus
Working memory
Executive functions
Processing speed
Situational awareness
Applications
Sports performance enhancement for athletes
Academic improvement for students
Cognitive training for individuals with ADHD or learning difficulties
Military training
General cognitive wellness for individuals
Scientific Basis
Developed by neuroscientist Jocelyn Faubert at the University of Montreal
Over 120 published academic papers related to NeuroTracker
Used in research studies at various institutions worldwide
What is Cognitive Training?
Cognitive training, also known as brain training, is a program of regular activities designed to maintain or improve cognitive abilities.
Core Concept
Cognitive training is based on the idea of neuroplasticity - the brain's ability to change and develop in response to experiences. It involves engaging in exercises or activities that target specific cognitive functions, such as:
Memory
Attention
Processing speed
Executive functions
Problem-solving
Reasoning
Cognitive training is used for various groups:
Children with learning difficulties or ADHD
Adults looking to enhance workplace skills
Older adults aiming to maintain cognitive function
Individuals recovering from brain injuries or neurological conditions
Potential Benefits
Improved cognitive performance in trained tasks
Better academic or workplace performance
Delayed onset of age-related cognitive decline
Improved daily functioning
How does NeuroTracker work?
NeuroTracker is a visual tracking exercise that takes place in a 3D environment. Designed to adapt to each person's ability, the training isolates and enhances fundamental cognitive skills that transfer to real world improvements.
Here's how the process works:
Visual Setup: Users wear anaglyph glasses to view a 3D virtual environment on a screen.
Target Identification: A set of spheres appears on the screen, with some designated as targets.
Tracking Phase: The spheres begin moving randomly in the 3D space. Users must track the target spheres while ignoring distractors.
Selection: When the movement stops, users must identify the correct target spheres.
Adaptive Difficulty: If the user selects the correct targets, the speed of movement increases in the next trial, making the task more challenging.
Session Structure: Each training session lasts about 6 minutes and consists of 20 trials.
Training Regimen: The recommended usage is 2-3 sessions per week, with a core training program comprising 30 sessions over about 3 months.
Cognitive Engagement: The exercise is designed to improve attention, executive function, working memory, and processing speed.
Customization: The system can be programmed for different speed and challenge levels, adapting to the user's performance.
Monitoring: For remote use, trainers can use the NeuroTrackerX application to view all users training progress and adapt programs accordingly.
This cognitive training approach aims to enhance fundamental mental abilities through repeated practice in a challenging, adaptive 3D environment.
Read more: Understanding NeuroTracker
Do I need to remember the numbers in the NeuroTracker exercise?
No. The numbers on the spheres are randomized each trial. They are only used as a way to identify your targets, either to input answers via keyboard, or to report them verbally.
Who can benefit from NeuroTracker?
Scientific studies show that NeuroTracker is beneficial for assessing and improving performance for athletes, personnel, healthy aging, people with cognitive related medical conditions, college students and children with learning difficulties. However, because NeuroTracker improves high-level mental abilities, it can be used by anyone looking to improve their mental performance.
Find out more: Who is it for?
Is NeuroTracker suitable for all ages?
Yes, NeuroTracker has no age restrictions. As long as the individual is capable of understanding the task, they are capable of training. However, children become more proficient at training as they age. It can also be helpful to see a specialist who uses NeuroTracker to determine an optimal training plan.
What is special about NeuroTracker’s cognitive training?
NeuroTracker differentiates itself from other cognitive training programs on the market with its scientific evidence of rapid improvements across many high-level cognitive abilities and transfer to human performance.
Rapid improvement: Even with minimal training, users quickly see mental improvements. Just 18 minutes of training per week can robustly improve high-level cognitive abilities such as attention, executive function, working memory, and processing speed. Most users experience positive results with just 1.5 to 3 hours of distributed training.
Transfer to human performance: In science, ‘far transfer’ is considered the gold-standard of research. Individuals using NeuroTracker experienced mental improvements not only in their training program, but also in non-related tasks e.g. passing accuracy in competitive play.
Learn more: Benefits of NeuroTracker
Can multiple people use the same NeuroTracker account?
No. When you sign up for a program, it becomes customized to you and adapts to your personal mental abilities. It is intended to track your personal progress and ensure that your training session is optimized each time. Each person has a different performance level and mental threshold.
How many times should I do NeuroTracker per day/week?
This depends on how quickly you want to experience training benefits.
For rapid training results it is recommended to complete 3 training sessions day. With this approach many scientific studies support that there will be broad and significant cognitive benefits within 1-2 weeks of training.
3 sessions per day is also the maximum amount of recommended training. As your brain needs sleep and rest to consolidate, more than 3 sessions per day will have less optimal benefits with each extra session.
However, research suggests session frequency is very flexible, with training just once per week still showing benefits over the longer term.
How long do the training benefits last?
In scientific research the benefits from 3 hours of training have been shown to last up to 14 months in healthy populations. Some evidence also suggests that training promotes neurogenesis, providing additional cognitive benefits around 4-5 weeks after training (when new neurons come online). That said, neuroplasticity is dependent on cognitive activity and also varies from person to person. If an individual remains cognitively active and engaged in learning the benefits may be very long lasting. In contrast, lack of cognitive activity, due to sports injury or depression for example, may diminish the benefits more quickly. Occasional NeuroTracker baselines can be used as an accurate indicator of how well the benefits are benefits are being retained.
What does a speed threshold score mean?
When a user completes a NeuroTracker session, they receive a ‘speed threshold’ score – the primary metric that NeuroTracker provides. Speed threshold is the calculated measure of a user who fails/succeeds at that speed approximately 50% of the time (upper tracking speed limit). It is based on NeuroTracker’s analysis of results across 20 trials within an individual session.
Effectively it represents the upper speed limit at which an individual can perform this multiple object tracking task.
Numerous studies show that this measures relates to real-world functions strongly, for example predicting sports performance or driving safety.
What is the purpose of the consolidation phase of training?
During the Consolidation Phase, the User is expected to rapidly improve their cognitive performance. Building this foundation of perceptual-cognitive training is a prerequisite for advanced training with the NeuroTracker Learning System. Users’ most significant improvements typically occur in the first 15-30 NeuroTracker training sessions.
This initial training phase effectively builds-up neuroplasticity levels, making the brain more adaptable to learning new tasks.
Learn more: Understanding Your Training Program
What is the purpose of different types of NeuroTracker sessions?
Core is the primary session used for NeuroTracker training and assessment. Other types of sessions, such as Selective and Distribute, have small variations to the Core session, changes demands on different types of attention. These differences can be used to train attentional skills in more specific ways, for example using Distribute training to focus on building-up better situational awareness.
In particular, sessions can be compared to Core baselines to assess strengths and weaknesses. If a user has low scores on say the Dynamic session, then training programs can include more of this session to more rapidly improve attention in choatic and unpredictable environments.
What are Dual-Tasks?
NeuroTracker dual-tasks are training methods that combine the NeuroTracker 3D multiple object tracking exercise with additional cognitive or physical tasks. There are three main types of dual-tasks used with NeuroTracker:
Motor-skill tasks:
These involve movement, balance, and proprioception abilities.
Examples include sitting on a bosu ball, standing on a balance board, or performing sport-specific movements.
They focus on the accuracy of coordinated movements or maintaining certain positions while tracking objects.
Physical tasks:
These involve cardio or strength-based exercises to induce physical exertion.
The goal is to train concentration and focus under the effects of fatigue.
Research suggests NeuroTracker can enhance cognitive resilience during physical stress.
Perceptual-cognitive tasks:
These expand the mental dimension of training by requiring users to perceive, understand, and respond to environmental cues.
Examples range from simple tasks like counting backwards or spelling words to more complex scenarios involving tactical decision-making.
Some elite military and sports teams use a special NeuroTracker mode with integrated virtual scenes for situational awareness training.
The dual-task approach is designed to:
Boost neurophysical fitness
Train mastery of specific skills under pressure
Extend learning to higher performance levels
Increased training motivation
For optimal results, it's recommended to:
Start with 15-30 sessions of basic NeuroTracker training before introducing dual-tasks
Begin with simple dual-tasks and progressively increase complexity over time
Combine different types of dual-tasks as mastery improves
This progressive overload approach aims to tap into neuroplasticity for more efficient learning and quicker mastery of complex tasks.
Note: NeuroTrackerX for Organizations includes specialized perceptual-cognitive dual-tasks which can be built into users' training programs or accessed via Open Training.
What hardware do I need to run NeuroTracker?
You can find out the minimum hardware & software requirements here:
Can I train on a mobile phone?
It is not recommended for two reasons.
NeuroTrackerX trains peripheral visual systems using a field of view of 46 degrees. On a small mobile device it is not practical to be close enough to the screen to facilitate peripheral vision.
NeuroTrackerX leverages the difference in perspective between each eye to the display screen. If viewed very closely, a mobile phone will create a large difference in the viewing angle of each eye, making 3D perception suboptimal.
However a mobile phone can be used to screen cast NeuroTracker to a large display such as a compatible TV.
How to I view training data in NeuroTrackerX?
On the end user dashboard there are two options:
Homepage chart - here you can scroll to explore data over time, as well as click on individual session points to see data highlights of that session.
When clicking on a session point you also have the option to explore a detailed breakdown of data for that session - simply click the 'Open this sessions in the stats page'. Alternatively you can go to the stats page by clicking the pie chart symbol on the left side of the homepage dashboard. Note that in that stats page you can select any session to view in the down drop menu next to 'Showing last session'.
In the NeuroTrackerX Organization application you can also compare macroscopic data between different users. Do this by clicking the Stats option on the left side of the dashboard, and then selecting the users you would like to compare.
Can I export NeuroTracker data?
Yes, there are two options:
You can download the basic homepage chart on the end user user dashboard in a print-friendly format by clicking the download option (just above the chart).
In the NeuroTrackerX Organization application you can download detailed training of any user or users. To do this go the the Organization section, click the checkbox next to a user, then click the export data option. To do a batch export of multiple users' data into a single XL document, simply click the checkboxes of all the users you would like to export data for.
Do I need to login to an end user's account to access their dashboard?
If you have the NeuroTrackerX Organization application then you do not need to login. Instead, go to the Organization page and click the bar chart icon next to any user's name to go directly to their dashboard. You can now use the end user account exactly the same as if you'd logged in.
To go back to the Organization application, simply click the back arrow on the top left of the end user dashboard (this will log out the user).
Note: this is a much more practical option for in-center, as your end user's dashboards are one click away. However you cannot access an end user account if it is already logged in (only one login per account is allowed).
3D Glasses & Training in 3D
When do I receive my 3D glasses?
Those who purchased 3D glasses should receive them within 7-14 business days. If you haven't received your glasses within 7 days please contact our Support Team.
Why does NeuroTracker use 3D technology?
NeuroTracker uses a 3D environment for these key reasons:
Enhanced cognitive engagement: The 3D environment provides a more immersive and challenging experience, requiring greater cognitive resources to process depth information along with object movement.
Improved performance and learning: Studies have shown that participants training in the 3D environment outperform those in 2D environments. The 3D setting leads to a higher learning curve throughout the training program.
Better representation of real-world scenarios: The 3D environment more closely mimics real-world visual processing, as we naturally perceive and interact with objects in three-dimensional space.
Utilization of binocular stereo cues: The 3D setup allows for the use of binocular vision cues, which the brain processes more effectively than monocular cues used in 2D environments.
Transfer to real-world skills: The 3D environment may facilitate better transfer of learned skills to real-world tasks, particularly in sports and other dynamic environments.
Stereoscopic benefits: Research suggests that stereoscopy (3D vision) benefits the processing of dynamic visual scenes by helping to disambiguate object occlusions.
Research studies have demonstrated that performance on NeuroTracker is significantly higher in 3D, and specifically helps to trigger peak performance flow states (compared to 2D).
What is anaglyph 3D?
Anaglyph 3D is a technique used to create stereoscopic 3D images that can be viewed with special glasses using color filters. Here are the key aspects of anaglyph 3D:
Image composition: Anaglyph 3D images are created by superimposing two slightly offset images of the same scene, each filtered with a red or cyan color.
Anaglyph glasses have different lens filters for each eye, effectively showing eye a different perspective of a 2D display .
The brain then fuses these two images to create the perception of a three-dimensional scene, simulating how real-world 3D vision is processed in the visual cortex.
Do I need to use NeuroTracker's anaglyph 3D glasses?
Other types of anaglyph 3D glasses can be used with NeuroTrackerX. However, NeuroTracker's 3D glasses are custom-engineered to be optimized for the applications video rendering.
Use of other types of glasses may be suboptimal, with effects such as color bleeding and less clear 3D perception. Therefore, using NeuroTracker 3D glasses is strongly recommended.
Can I wear spectacles with NeuroTracker 3D glasses?
Yes, the glasses are designed to fit comfortably with spectacles. If spectacles are needed to view a computer display clearly, it is recommended they are worn with the 3D glasses.
Can I train in 2D?
Yes. To get the full benefits of NeuroTracker it is generally strongly recommended to train in stereo 3D. That said, there are a some exceptions:
When 3D is not practical, for example if waiting for 3D glasses to be delivered, users can initiate their training program in 2D.
Research has shown that in young children and elderly populations brain functions used for 3D stereo processing are less optimal, in which case the training benefits in 2D may be closer to 2D. Similarly, some patients with specific visual conditions (e.g. amblyopia) may have diminished 3D stereo capacities.
2D versus 3D NeuroTracker baselines can be used to uniquely assess 3D stereo capacities for complex motion processing (used in driving for instance) for predicting real-world performance readiness. This type of assessment may also be useful for detecting the effects of prolonged regular exposures to 2D screen time, potentially impairing 3D stereo capacities or typical neurodevelopment processes in children.
To train in 2D it is important to make sure the NeuroTrackerX render is set to 2D in the user's dashboard options under their name. Training without 3D glasses with 3D on is not recommended, and may cause mild eye strain.
Where can I buy new 3D glasses?
Those looking to buy NeuroTracker 3D glasses should contact our Support Team.
Can I use NeuroTracker with a projector?
Yes. Projectors are a good solution for in-center based training and the large display is ideal for physical dual-task training. However projectors work best in low light environments - if there is sunlight in the room the display may look faded.
There are two options:
Use a normal 2D projector with NeuroTracker 3D anaglyph glasses. The glasses convert the projector display into stereo 3D.
Use a 3D projector. These come with active 3D glasses which must be used with the projector. For this option you must also switch the NeuroTracker application to Active 3D. Active 3D can be found in the user dashboard when clicking the dropdown menu under the user's name, in the Render options.
Getting Started
How do I learn about the science and benefits?
There are a number of resources to learn about NeuroTracker's science and benefits, including:
Science & Benefits Video series: A video series that explains the key aspects of the NeuroTracker exercise and the benefits gained from training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRnIfzDXo3A&list=PLvt_UNx1cWI87SQNoK3pBIAKh0GSkTGzU
Research Video Series: A video series that reviews the most impactful peer-reviewed published studies and the relevance they have for real-world training applications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM94IjtATw8&list=PLvt_UNx1cWI_k_g6LspQRzlt0DhUEbT7Z
NeuroTracker Academy (Clients Only): NeuroTracker Academy is available for all NeuroTrackerX trainers. It has been designed to provide a deeper knowledge base on the many scientific applications of the software. Academy
Where do I learn how to use the software?
NeuroTrackerX has in-app tutorials that cover the most important features of the program. All clients also receive trainer and user guides that cover the topic more in-depth.
Find out more: Understanding the dashboardUnderstanding the dashboard
How far away from the screen should I sit?
As an approximate guide, the distance between your eyes and your display should be around the same distance as the width of the display. For example, with a 17 inch monitor, your eyes should be roughly 17 inches away from the screen. Training should always be completed with the center of the screen at eye level.
Get the right training set-up: Getting the right training set-up
Should I follow my targets with my eyes?
No. NeuroTracker is a multiple object tracking exercise and it is not possible to follow different targets simultaneously with your eyes. Instead keep your eyes directed towards the center of the screen and spread your mental attention to your peripheral field of view to track multiple targets at the same time.
Note: at first this can be a tricky skill to master for new users, but with a little patience and practice it will come naturally. It is also a useful skill in daily life (e.g. when driving or playing sports).
What is the dot for in the middle of the NeuroTrackerX exercise?
This is called a visual pivot and is there as reference point to help keep your eye gaze central, while spreading your visual attention to your peripheral field of view.
It is particularly helpful to focus on the visual pivot during the early phases of a training program, in order to prevent the eyes from trying to follow individual targets around the cube.
How do I unlock the program creation feature?
Creating programs, sessions and questionnaires is restricted to advanced and full-support plans.
The feature is unlocked upon successful completion of the NeuroTracker Academy Advanced certification.
Does NeuroTracker work for home use?
Yes! It's been proven that NeuroTracker has exactly the same benefits if you use it from the comfort of your home. For more information, visit this blog post.
Do I need to be connected to the internet to use NeuroTrackerX?
Yes, all NeuroTrackerX data to automatically saved to a remote database.
If internet connectivity is temporarily lost during a NeuroTracker session it will continue as normal until the end of the session. If connectivity is restored, the session will complete and the data will be saved normally.
If connectivity is not restored then the session cannot be logged and the data will not be saved.
Can I use a NeuroTrackerX account on multiple devices?
Yes. You can only be logged in with one account at any time, however you are free to use your account to login and use NeuroTrackerX on any compatible computer or mobile device.
Device options include PC, Mac, Android, iOS and browsers.
Note: if NeuroTrackerX has not been previously used on a device then the software needs to be installed. Installation is very quick and can the software for any compatible OS be downloaded here: https://www.neurotrackerx.com/download
Billing & Troubleshooting
How can I cancel my subscription?
Users are able to cancel the subscription renewal within the settings section of the NeuroTracker Application.
Organizations can request a cancellation by contacting our Support Team.
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