November 29, 2013 1.58 pm This story is over 123 months old

Lincoln veterans charity gifted trauma aid technology

NeuroTracker: Lincoln veterans’ charity HILT will be the first charity in the UK to benefit from ground-breaking neurological technology.

A Lincoln’s veterans charity will be able to better assist sufferers of Combat Stress and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) with a generous donation.

The HILT Foundation will be the first of its kind in the UK to have the use of ground-breaking technology to combat symptoms of trauma related issues.

NeuroTracker’ presented at Beech House, on November 29, is a scientific innovation initially used for measuring and improving cognitive performance in sports.

CogniSens Inc, the company behind the innovation, donated the technology to the HILT Foundation.

Developed by world-leading neurologist Dr Jocelyn Faubert from the University of Montreal in Canada, the technology has been helping elite athletes gain more efficient spacial awareness.

Currently, the system is being used by players at Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as Formula 1 drivers and tennis professionals.

While the technology is proven to improve response time, the NeuroTracker’s abilities also focus on sustaining concentration and situational awareness, an effect that has lead to breakthroughs in a range of mental health conditions.

Sessions take between three and five minutes. The participant is put into a 3D environment with eight yellow balls within their field of view.

Four of the digital balls are highlighted briefly and the participant must follow them as they merge into the moving collection. At the end of the level, the original four balls must be identified.

The process is repeated, with each level gaining speed and difficulty.

The HILT foundation were given a demonstration by Jean Castonguay, President and CEO of CogniSens Inc.

HILT Centre Manager Dave Cash with President and CEO of Cognisens Inc, Jean Castonguay. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

HILT Centre Manager Dave Cash with President and CEO of Cognisens Inc, Jean Castonguay. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Mr Castonguay said: “What we do improves people’s capability of capturing information and processing it.

“Human performance does not relate only the the elite, but also normal people, or people that have a mental disorder or have suffered a form of trauma.

“The technology can be applied to so many other things, active ageing is a big problem and the NeuroTracker had big applications with regard to driving and situational awareness.

“We have demonstrated that the technology is very efficient for treating natural conditions such as autism, ADD and ADHD, people that are recovering from a stroke, and neurological diseases such as Altzheimer’s.

“We are excited to collaborate with the HILT foundation because we will be addressing a lot of these issues.

“It’s a very simple exercise, in appearance, but it is fundamental in readjusting the mind to normality and awareness after trauma.”

Dave Cash, the HILT Foundation Centre Manager said: “The NeuroTracker will be a major help to sufferers PTSD related illness.

“The system works on spatial awareness and helps by defragmenting the brain to all intents and purposes, it helps realign the brains pathways and focuses on de-cluttering the clients thought system.

“PTSD is a debilitating illness, you are mentally stuck in a moment in time and find it hard to move on, it makes you feel extremely tired, you become hyper vigilant, angry, anxious, you lose all interest in everything.

“We heard at a recent presentation from the NHS psychiatric team that it can take up to 18 weeks to be seen in hospital. This technology could make a life or death difference.”