Elite hockey players show position-based brain strengths, SFU research finds

While most athletes focus heavily on physical training, researchers at SFU are trying to help them gain a mental advantage as well.

While most athletes spend countless hours training their bodies to maximize physical performance, research conducted by experts at Simon Fraser University shows there are also benefits to mental training.

“You look at star hockey players like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, and we may be reaching the limits of physical speed,” said lead researcher Eric Kirby, an SFU PhD graduate now with HealthTech Connex Inc. “But the brain is highly adaptable — and we now have the tools to measure and enhance that adaptability.”

Researchers used the portable NeuroCatchbrain scanner, developed by HealthTech Connex in partnership with SFU, to assess 378 elite Junior A hockey players across British Columbia. The data showed that forwards had the fastest cognitive and auditory processing speeds, while goaltenders demonstrated the strongest attentional focus.

On average, the study found a 60-millisecond processing speed difference between forwards and defencemen.

“We can measure you thinking faster and we can optimize that so you’re actually able to perform better from a mental processing point of view,” said Dr. Ryan D’Arcy, a neuroscientist at SFU 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.”

D’Arcy said the scanner is lightweight, non-invasive and can be used immediately after players step off the ice, allowing for real-time evaluation of high-performance brain activity.

The device measures brain activity related to sensory input, attention and cognitive function.

“NeuroCatch is like a blood pressure cuff for the brain — a portable tool to measure and track brain health,” said D’Arcy.

The scan takes about six minutes and uses a soft electrode cap to record data.

“We now have an incredible list of things that allow 50 to 150 milliseconds off your ability to cognitively anticipate the play,”