How To Create A Cognitive Baseline Test

Creating an effective cognitive baseline test is essential in measuring an individual's current cognitive capacities, particularly when tailoring training to their specific needs. This help center article outlines a structured approach for setting up this foundational assessment.

The duration of the baseline test is critical. We recommend a minimum of 30 minutes to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of cognitive abilities. A test that's too brief can lead to inadequate data collection, which may affect the quality of the results and hinder informed decision-making. Additionally, a baseline test that's too short may not sufficiently challenge the athlete, resulting in an inaccurate assessment of their capabilities.

Selecting the right tasks is crucial. Choose between three to six tasks that closely align with the cognitive demands you aim to address. These tasks should form the core of your baseline assessment.

With a myriad of options available, selecting the appropriate tasks for the baseline can be daunting. The key is to choose tasks that align with the specific cognitive demand you're targeting. Don't overcomplicate this process. The most critical aspect is to ensure that the task possesses adequate cognitive load. A task that's too easy, too short, or lacks sufficient cognitive load won't effectively induce fatigue or stress, which is vital for an accurate baseline assessment.

For instance, if your baseline focuses on decision-making skills and you select a task like visual choice, you might find the basic version of this task too simple. To increase its demand, you could have the athlete perform it while maintaining a heart rate in zone 4. This customization adds difficulty, making the task more challenging and suitable for the baseline. Alternatively, you could use Soma's adaptive mode to increase the task's intensity as the athlete improves.

Finally, at the end of the training cycle, it's important to reassess the athlete using the same baseline test. This allows you to measure progress effectively, highlighting areas of improvement and identifying aspects that may still need attention.

By following these steps and utilizing the tools available in Soma, you can create a cognitive baseline test that is both challenging and tailored to the individual's needs. This baseline will serve as a crucial benchmark in your cognitive training program, allowing for precise tracking of progress and adjustments to the training plan as needed.

Below is a list of cognitive tasks, categorized by their main cognitive demand. While each task involves multiple skills, the classification emphasizes the most significant one.

💬 Voice Command Task

✋ Right Hand

🤚 Left Hand

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