In this systematic review, we evaluate the scientific evidence behind “Neurotracker,” one of the most popular perceptual-cognitive training tools in sports. The tool, which is also used in rehabilitation and aging research to examine cognitive abilities, uses a 3D multiple object-tracking (MOT) task. In this review, we examine Neurotracker from both a sport science and a basic science perspective. We first summarize the sport science debate regarding the value of general cognitive skill training, based on tools such as Neurotracker, versus sport-specific skill training. We then consider the several hundred MOT publications in cognitive and vision science from the last 30 years that have investigated cognitive functions and object tracking processes. This literature suggests that the abilities underlying object tracking are not those advertised by the Neurotracker manufacturers. With a systematic literature search, we scrutinize the evidence for whether general cognitive skills can be tested and trained with Neurotracker and whether these trained skills transfer to other domains. The literature has major limitations, for example a total absence of preregistered studies, which makes the evidence for improvements for working memory and sustained attention very weak. For other skills as well, the effects are mixed. Only three studies investigated far transfer to ecologically valid tasks, two of which did not find any effect. We provide recommendations for future Neurotracker research to improve the evidence base and for making better use of sport and basic science findings.

在这篇系统综述中，我们评估了“Neurotracker”背后的科学证据，“Neurotracker”是运动中最流行的感知认知训练工具之一。该工具也用于康复和衰老研究以检查认知能力，使用 3D 多对象跟踪 (MOT) 任务。在这篇综述中，我们从运动科学和基础科学的角度审视了 Neurotracker。我们首先总结了关于基于 Neurotracker 等工具的一般认知技能训练与特定运动技能训练的价值的运动科学辩论。然后，我们考虑过去 30 年中认知和视觉科学领域的数百篇 MOT 出版物，这些出版物研究了认知功能和对象跟踪过程。该文献表明，对象跟踪的能力并不是 Neurotracker 制造商所宣传的。通过系统的文献检索，我们仔细研究了一般认知技能是否可以使用 Neurotracker 进行测试和训练，以及这些训练过的技能是否可以转移到其他领域。文献有很大的局限性，例如完全没有预先注册的研究，这使得改善工作记忆和持续注意力的证据非常薄弱。对于其他技能，效果也是好坏参半。只有三项研究调查了远迁移到生态有效的任务，其中两项没有发现任何影响。我们为未来的 Neurotracker 研究提供建议，以改善证据基础并更好地利用运动和基础科学发现。