media release
Brain power play: Hockey players show position-specific smarts, says SFU study
As elite athletes push the boundaries of physical performance, 91ĹÝÜ˝ researchers are exploring a new frontier: brain training.
A recent study published in the 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 “But the brain is highly adaptable — and we now have the tools to measure and enhance that adaptability.”
Using the portable , 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.
For interviews, contact Shannon Cotnam, executive assistant to Dr. Ryan D'Arcy 778.882.3536 | shannoncotnam@healthtechconnex.com
ERIC KIRBY, SFU PhD graduate, senior neuroscientist, HealthTech Connex Inc.
erickirby@healthtechconnex.com
Contact
MATT KIELTYKA, SFU Communication & Marketing
236.880.2187 | matt_kieltyka@sfu.ca
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Communications & Marketing | SFU Media Experts Directory
778.782.3210
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91ĹÝÜ˝ a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Over the past 60 years, SFU has been recognized among the top universities worldwide in providing a world-class education and working with communities and partners to develop and share knowledge for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. Committed to excellence in everything we do, SFU fosters innovation to address global challenges and continues to build a welcoming, inclusive community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. With campuses in British Columbia’s three largest cities—Burnaby, Surrey and Vancouver—SFU has ten faculties that deliver 368 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs for more than 37,000 students each year. The university boasts more than 200,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.