As elite athletes push the boundaries of physical performance, Simon Fraser University researchers are exploring a new frontier: brain training.
A recent study published in the Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine reveals that hockey players' cognitive processing speeds vary by position - and that these abilities can be trained.
"You look at star hockey players like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, and we may be reaching the limits of physical speed," says lead researcher Eric Kirby, an SFU PhD graduate now working with neuroscience professor Ryan D'Arcy at HealthTech Connex Inc. "But the brain is highly adaptable - and we now have the tools to measure and enhance that adaptability."
Using the portable NeuroCatch® brain scanner, researchers tested 378 elite junior A hockey players across B.C. The results showed that forwards had the fastest auditory and cognitive processing and goalies showed the strongest attentional focus. On average, the processing speed difference between forwards and defenders was 60 milliseconds, according to the study.
The NeuroCatch® scanner measures brain responses related to sensory, attentional, and cognitive processing. By identifying which areas of the brain are most active based on player position, athletes can tailor their training to sharpen mental performance alongside physical conditioning.
"We've seen that you can train your brain to think faster - sometimes between 50 and 100 milliseconds faster - which is huge," explains D'Arcy, study author and co-founder of NeuroCatch. "That processing advantage not only boosts performance but also enhances safety. In contact sports, being able to read patterns and react quickly can help you avoid a hit."
The scans can be conducted immediately after players come off the ice, which enables unparalleled evaluation opportunities. This approach allowed researchers to capture authentic, high-performance brain activity in a live sports environment.
But the technology isn't just for athletes. D'Arcy notes that NeuroCatch is a fast, non-intrusive tool that's being used in a wide range of settings, from sports and rehabilitation to emergency rooms and research labs. The scan takes just six minutes, using a soft electrode cap.
"Integrated with SFU research and commercialized by HealthTech Connex, NeuroCatch is a readily available medical device: a portable brain scanner that measures your brain health, much like you measure your heart health with a blood pressure cuff," says D'Arcy. "It not only evaluates your brain health but also helps identify the most effective treatments - and tracks whether they're working."
Available SFU Experts
RYAN D'ARCY, professor, applied sciences, co-founder and scientific director, NeuroCatch and HealthTech Connex Inc.
