An app-enhanced cognitive fitness training program for athletes: The rationale and validation protocol

Abstract

The core dimensions of cognitive fitness, such as attention and cognitive control, are emerging through a transdisciplinary expert consensus on what has been termed the Cognitive Fitness Framework (CF2). These dimensions represent key drivers of cognitive performance under pressure across many occupations, from first responders to sport, performing arts and the military. The constructs forming the building blocks of CF2 come from the RDoC framework, an initiative of the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) aimed at identifying the cognitive processes underlying normal and abnormal behavior. Similar to physical conditioning, cognitive fitness can be improved with deliberate practice. This paper reports the development of a prototype cognitive fitness training program for competitive athletes and the protocol for its evaluation. The program is focused on primary cognitive capacities and subtending skills for adjusting training rhythms and enhancing readiness for competition. The project is driven by the Australian Psychological Society’s College of Sport & Exercise Psychology and includes the development of a Cognitive Gym program for a smartphone app-enhanced implementation. Its key building blocks are training protocols (drills) connected by a periodized training plan. A website with background supporting resources has also been developed as part of the project. National-level training squads will participate in a three-week pilot evaluation protocol, assessing the program’s efficacy and usability through gamified cognitive assessment of participants’ training gains and coaching staff evaluations, respectively. Both near and far transfer of training effects will be examined.

Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Platform to Train Stress Management Skills for a Defense Workforce: Multisite, Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

“…Cognitive strategies, including goal setting and emotional and attentional control, have also been shown to positively impact psychological well-being in military personnel [22][23][24][25]. Although there is growing evidence on the benefit of training cognitive stress management skills in first responders and similar occupational cohorts [26][27][28][29][30], further research is required to inform best practice strategies on how to effectively implement and scale training within and across organizations. A major challenge in this context is that many workplace and training organizations deliver training as scheduled activities and in groups.…”

Cognitive fitness modulates gender differences in sleep and mental health among competitive athletes under chronic stress

“…Finally, in most cases, the associations between cognitive fitness traits and sleep and mental health did not differ between men and women athletes. As future research explores the utility of cognitive fitness training, our findings generate the hypothesis that the performance and mental health of men and women athletes would benefit from training programs targeting cognitive fitness ( Aidman et al, 2022 ).…”

“…The ingredients of cognitive fitness studied here were drawn from a theory-driven model ( Aidman, 2020 ) which in turn is based on Research Domain Criteria ( Clark et al, 2017 ) and supported by a transdisciplinary Delphi study ( Albertella et al, 2023 ). The cognitive fitness framework suggests that cognitive fitness factors, although initially trait-based, can be trained for sustained optimal performance ( Aidman et al, 2022 ; Albertella et al, 2023 ). Women competitive athletes in the current study reported poorer cognitive fitness in multiple domains.…”

“…As such, the possible interactive effects of cognitive fitness ( Aidman, 2020 ) and gender on sleep and mental health outcomes could have implications for intervention strategies with athletes. Indeed, the ingredients of cognitive fitness studied in the current paper have the potential to be modified to improve performance and wellbeing ( Balk and Englert, 2020 ; Aidman et al, 2022 ; Flood and Keegan, 2022 ; Albertella et al, 2023 ). The COVID-19 pandemic provided a naturalistic example of a global chronic stressor for us to explore the possible associations between cognitive fitness and gender with wellbeing under real-world conditions of high vulnerability.…”

Identifying Behavior Change Techniques in an Artificial Intelligence-Based Fitness App: A Content Analysis

“…The proliferation of smartphones and growing awareness of the significance of regular exercise and healthy living have contributed to the widespread adoption of fitness apps (Huang & Zhou, 2018). The apps have effectively catered to diverse users, ranging from fitness enthusiasts and athletes to beginners seeking guidance and motivation (Aidman et al, 2022;Molina & Myrick, 2021).The widespread adoption of fitness apps has been attributed to their ability to harness technology, offering innovative features and functionalities (Conroy et al, 2014). Such features empower users to set goals, track progress, and receive real-time feedback, fostering motivation and accountability (Muntaner-Mas et al, 2019).…”