Catch a brainwave!

Dr. Taylor Hutchins

Right now, I have the satisfaction of helping my wife raise 4 young children between the ages of 2 and 9. The question WHY is thrown at me on a daily continuum. At times my answers are backed by life experience or faith. Sometimes I refer to Alexa or Google (no shame in that) or a creative “Dad joke” (some shame) for a moment of levity to keep the wife laughing, but today the answer comes from science.

So WHY does training your visual system improve your performance in sports, academics and life? This specialized training has been known through the years as Vision Therapy, Sports Vision Training ,Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation and others. The methods for training are diverse and specific to each individual’s abilities and goals. The athletes starting point is understood by first performing a full functional neuro-vision evaluation. This exam goes beyond 20/20 and even comprehensive medical eye exams to show us areas of opportunity to improve function.

One of our customized training tools revolves around the neuro-visual task of multiple object tracking, in 3D when possible. Tracking multiple objects on a large screen while performing other tasks allows us to increase the cognitive demand we are capable of handling in any given situation. That could be as simple as multi-tasking our busy schedule or as complex as flying a fighter jet with many scenarios in between. Neuro Tracker is a leader in multiple object tracking evaluation and training software with years of research showing its correlation to improved performance. I mentioned training in 3D because it adds another level of higher order brain function that simulates real-world demands on our visual system and decision making.

One reason the training improves our ability to learn and adapt to new situations is presented in the graph below where a study was able to show an increase in brainwave frequencies at rest after 5 weeks of training, which is similar to the effects we see when taking Ritalin. Ritalin increases the availability of neurotransmitters in your central nervous system to get this effect.

We train your brain! These changes in the brain allow us to hone in on the details we are missing which can give us an edge in sports, improved awareness on our daily commute and the focus we need to succeed in the classroom or work place.