Question 1

What is Soma NPT?

Accepted Answer

Soma NPT (Neuro Performance Technology) is a training app designed to train the brain of an athlete or high performing individual. The cognitive tasks within Soma NPT are used to induce cognitive fatigue (which are the core of a BET program) they were chosen based on their effect on specific areas of the brain and how they target specific cognitive functions. Soma NPT has built all of its cognitive tasks following the guidelines of these validated tasks. This is the best brain training app for training and improving mental toughness and mental resilience particularly for sports performance and for those individuals who work in high performance industries. Soma NPT is complemented by an athlete monitoring system called Soma Analytics. This system monitors cognitive performance and cognitive fatigue levels and links directly to Soma NPT.

Question 2

What is Soma NPT Vision?

Accepted Answer

Soma NPT vision is a sports vision training app that uses eye tracking technology to train the vision of an athlete or high performing individual as well as training the brain for more mental toughness and mental resilience. The cognitive tasks in Soma Vision are driven by the eyes. This technology, therefore, combines the benefits of sports vision training along with cognition. Sports vision is a popular tool used in many elite sports today, however until now, there has not been a training app that offers sports vision training with eye-tracking technology. Most systems are one dimensional, only offer a handful of drills, and are large and expensive. Soma vision is a built-in app form and can be used anywhere at any time. Soma Vision has its own analytics athlete monitoring system like Soma NPT.

Question 3

What is Soma NPT Breathe?

Accepted Answer

Soma NPT Breathe is a cognitive recovery application designed to assist with deep mental and physical recovery. Soma NPT Breathe offers guided box breathing with the optional addition of binaural beats to increase focus and relaxation. Box breathing is well known for its benefits and for its use by navy seals to remain calm and focused even under intense pressure. Haptic feedback is used for those who wish to perform the breathing drills with eyes closed, eliminating the need to look at the screen. Haptic feedback uses vibration to indicate the timing of the breathing drill, so that it can be performed with eyes closed. In combination with the binaural beats, this allows for a fully immersive, cognitive recovery experience.

Question 4

What devices are the applications available on?

Accepted Answer

Soma NPT and Soma Breathe are available on iPhone and iPad and Soma Vision is available on iPhones and iPads with face recognition technology.

Question 5

What is a SOMA ID?

Accepted Answer

A SOMA ID is a 6 digit code that gives access to the SOMA NPT application. This means that athletes can log in to SOMA NPT from different devices. They can use their own device for remote training (if required) and they can sign in to a device at your training facility. As long as they are logged in with their own SOMA ID, their data will link to the Soma Analytics and be captured for analysis. To capture the data for any SOMA ID you must be signed up to the Soma Analytics. Remember this is a separate subscription. You can not log into the Soma Analytics with a SOMA ID. You need to sign up via the webpage and then ADD the SOMA ID of the athlete(s) you are monitoring.

Question 6

Can I use one Soma ID for multiple users?

Accepted Answer

You will not be able to monitor individual data as all the data will be mixed. Using one Soma ID for multiple users is a breach of our terms and conditions and those found to be doing this will have their subscriptions cancelled and may be banned from using Soma Technologies in the future.

Question 7

Do you offer a free trial?

Accepted Answer

We do not offer free trials for any of the Soma Technologies.

Question 8

How do I cancel my Soma NPT subscription?

Accepted Answer

All subscriptions can be managed via iTunes 1. Open the Settings app. 2. Tap your name. 3. Tap Subscriptions. (If you don't see "Subscriptions," tap "iTunes & App Store" instead. Then tap your Apple ID, tap View Apple ID, sign in, scroll down to Subscriptions, and tap Subscriptions.) 4. Tap the subscription that you want to manage. 5. Tap Cancel Subscription. If you don’t see Cancel Subscription, the subscription is already canceled and won't renew. Please do not email us to cancel as we have no ability to cancel Apple subscriptions made through your iTunes account.

Question 9

I have been charged twice on different dates, Why?

Accepted Answer

Most likely you have two iTunes account on different devices and you have subscribed to Soma NPT or Soma NPT Vision on both accounts. Please check the Apple ID you are using for your iTunes on all your devices and check your subscriptions for all your apple IDs. If you find you have two subscriptions on two different IDs you will need to cancel one of your subscriptions to Soma. Please do not email us to cancel as we have no ability to cancel Apple subscriptions made through your iTunes account. You need to cancel subscriptions via your device by logging into your Apple ID via your settings menu.

Question 10

Technical issues

Accepted Answer

If you run into any technical issues please delete and reinstall Soma NPT. If the issue persists please email us on hi@soma-npt.ch

Question 11

How can we use your technology with our team?

Accepted Answer

It is best that you schedule a call with us in order to discuss your specific requirements. Contact us on hi@soma-npt.ch

Question 12

Can I purchase multiple Soma ID access for my team?

Accepted Answer

It is best that you schedule a call with us in order to discuss your specific requirements. Contact us on hi@soma-npt.ch

Question 13

Do you offer programming assistance for teams?

Accepted Answer

es we do. It is best that you schedule a call with us in order to discuss your specific requirements. Contact us on hi@soma-npt.ch

Question 14

Do I need to purchase the Soma Onboarding Education Course ?

Accepted Answer

You do not need to purchase the onboarding education but this is highly recommended to get the most out of Soma Technologies.

Question 15

What is Soma Analytics?

Accepted Answer

Soma Analytics is the web-based back-end where the training data from Soma NPT is held. This data can be analysed, analytical reports generated and Brain Endurance Training programs created. This athlete monitoring system is designed for the coach to monitor an athletes cognitive training and fatigue levels to ensure they are in the right range of fatigue in order to achieve more mental toughness and mental resilience. This part of the neuro tech monitors each athletes, Reaction Time (measured in milliseconds) Response Speed (a statistical measure more accurate than reaction time) Co-efficient of Variation (how much variation in the spread of data from the mean) RCS (rate of correct responses per second of activity) Accuracy RPE (rate of perceived exertion) Lapses (in specific drills which are highly validated you can measure lapses in concentration) Mental fatigue levels Time/Date/Duration the drill was completed Soma analytics links athlete to coach directly through the sports tech. The coach can design and send programs straight to the device of the athlete. This is cognitive athlete monitoring. Monitor the fatigue levels of each athlete and make live adjustments to the Brain Endurance Training program as required.

Question 16

Where is the data held?

Accepted Answer

All data is held encrypted on our servers in Switzerland. All athletes can be monitored, reports sent and programs made remotely from the analytical back end, this increases compliance.

Question 17

What do all the measurements mean in Soma NPT and Soma NPT Vision?

Accepted Answer

Learn More - https://medium.com/sswitch/quantifiable-cognitive-measurements-71243bb5b58

Question 18

Who's using Soma NPT?

Accepted Answer

Our current client list includes teams, coaches, athletes, individuals and brands from these organisations NBA NFL CFL Cross Fit Games Bundesliga PGA Ironman Redbull Blancpain F1 WRC eSports Premiership Rugby IPL National sports teams US Special forces US Airforce Olympic Athletes across different sports Feldhockey Bundesliga Swiss Super League Football Swiss Challenge League Swiss Handball League Swiss Karate Federation Karate Premier League Frauen bundesliga The Fédération Internationale de Ski

Question 19

Where can I learn more about Brain Endurance Training (BET)?

Accepted Answer

We have a huge library of articles on Medium. Take a look here to learn all about Brain Endurance Training, building mental toughness in sport, increasing sports performance, cognitive training, using BET in a training regime, sports vision, recovery, and many studies on mental fatigue in sports, athletes and high performing individuals.  Learn here - https://medium.com/sswitch

Question 20

Do you have an educational system for teams, brands and coaches to use Soma Analytics with their athletes?

Accepted Answer

Yes we have an extensive educational system specifically built for coaches, teams and brands who want to level up in sports tech and expand their knowledge in cognition and sports performance. The education system teaches about cognitive fatigue and how it affects sports performance as well as how to use the neurotechnology Soma NPT and Soma analytics. - https://sswitch.thinkific.com/

Question 21

Do you have a getting started guide for Soma NPT?

Accepted Answer

Yes please download our getting started guide below. Download - https://soma-npt.ch/landing-page/images/SomaNPTTraining%20Guide.pdf

Question 22

Do you have a getting started guide for Soma NPT Vision?

Accepted Answer

Yes please download our getting started guide below.  Download - https://soma-npt.ch/landing-page/images/SomaVisionTrainingGuide.pdf

Question 23

Do you have information for coaches starting BET and the benefits of Brain Endurance Training?

Accepted Answer

Yes please download our getting started with Soma NPT Coaches PDF. Download -https://soma-npt.ch/landing-page/images/Coach.pdf

Question 24

Do you have information for athletes starting BET and the benefits of Brain Endurance Training?

Accepted Answer

Yes please download our getting started with Soma NPT athletes PDF. https://soma-npt.ch/landing-page/images/Athlete.pdf

Question 25

Do you have periodization and progression guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Do you have periodization and progression guidelines? https://soma-npt.ch/landing-page/images/progressive-overload.pdf

Question 26

Do you have guidelines I can follow for programming?

Accepted Answer

Please download our framework flow chart.  https://soma-npt.ch/coach/img/framework.pdf

Question 27

Do you have loading guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Please download our loading guidelines.  https://soma-npt.ch/coach/img/guideline.pdf

Question 28

Do you provide template plans for Soma NPT and Soma NPT Vision?

Accepted Answer

Yes we do provide template plans for both applications. You can purchase these here. https://soma-npt.ch/plans

Question 29

Do you provide custom plans for Soma NPT and Soma NPT Vision?

Accepted Answer

For the more serious athlete or coach, or those in high performing industries like the military, private security, or higher risk industries we are often asked to design custom plans. You can find out more here, https://soma-npt.ch/plans

Question 30

What is Brain Endurance Training (BET)?

Accepted Answer

Brain Endurance Training (BET) is a cognitive training specifically designed to increase your brains resilience toward the sense of fatigue.

Question 31

How does Brain Endurance Training transfer to athletic performance?

Accepted Answer

BET works on the principle that the sense of fatigue develops in certain areas of the brain that can be targeted by specific cognitive tasks and can induce an adaptation in the brain which will make the athlete more resistant. Sense of fatigue is a key component in sport because it critically alters sports performance by increasing the perception of effort in completing a specific action (both physical and mental). When we talk about mental toughness, we talk about the ability of an individual or athlete to withstand their feelings of fatigue and still have a high level of performance. By training the brain to fatigue we are forcing it to adapt to higher fatigue levels. This is the same principle we use when training the body. We train cognitive fatigue to the right level to induce an adaptive response in the brain and therefore a greater resilience to both mental and physical fatigue.

Question 32

Why do we get better physically from a brain training app?

Accepted Answer

Fatigue is generated in an area of the brain regardless of the source of fatigue. So mental fatigue and physical fatigue are felt in the same part of the brain. This is why you can feel physically exhausted after a mentally or emotionally laboured event, even when you have not moved your body much at all. The area of the brain where fatigue develops can be targeted by cognitive training drills. Targeting this area can make it more resilient to fatigue. Like a gym for that area of the brain, you get better at handling mental fatigue.

Question 33

Cant I just talk myself out of the feeling of fatigue and push through?

Accepted Answer

This is a common question and shows how mental fatigue is commonly taken care of today. However this is a misunderstood concept. While self talk can have an improvement in mental fatigue levels and RPE (rate of perceived exertion) it requires mental capacity to carry out. Furthermore, when cognitive fatigue really kicks in, an athlete will slow down and reduce performance unconsciously. The brain decides to hit the brakes in order to protect the body from the mounting levels of fatigue. Therefore it is not possible to talk yourself out of something your body is doing almost against your will.

Question 34

Do the drills need to replicate the game exactly?

Accepted Answer

There is a lot of controversy in science about the transfer of cognitive drills into the specific sport. So it is sometimes difficult for coaches and sports scientists to understand how much cognitive training can actually help and transfer benefits in a specific sport. BET, however, does not work specifically on improving a specific sport capacity, instead, it targets the individual's ability to become more resilient and resistant to mental fatigue, which has a negative impact on physical performance. When we talk about specifics in carry over we are missing the point. Cognitive training drills are designed to push cognitive performance, train mental toughness and develop a greater ability to handle fatigue in the brain. The drills induce cognitive fatigue and the drills make demands on the brain that are similar to the demands placed on the brain in sport or high risk high performance industries. The cognitive drills in the sports tech are the method to inducing cognitive fatigue in training, so that in competition we have that positive adaptation in the brain and more mental capacity to play with. It is the same as thinking one machine in the gym is going to give you stronger legs. Is this one machine going to be the be-all and end-all of your leg strength and size? Or is it the way you use the machine and the LOAD you put your legs under, progressively over a period of time that creates the adaptation and gets the result? Staying with this metaphor, you certainly wouldn't decide to do bench press to get leg growth would you. So with BET, we want to keep the drills we use to induce cognitive fatigue, as relevant to the mental demands of the sport as possible.  We have already designed the drills in Soma NPT with this intention. We also assist you with drill selection in order to keep things as relevant as possible in our on-boarding course.

Question 35

How do you know Brain Endurance Training (BET) is working?

Accepted Answer

For many years science has demonstrated and it is well documented that mental fatigue affects physical performance in several sports. It has been scientifically proven time and time again. There is evidence that proves using a task that induces mental fatigue as a “training stimulus” to overload the brain will create an adaptation that can be beneficial when translated into sports performance. As a matter of fact, it is very well established in science that  the brain can be trained as much as the body and that it is playing a key role in improving sports performance. When you use Soma NPT and Soma Analytics for BET, you can gauge improvement because you have data to analyse and progressive programming tools.

Question 36

Aren’t they just getting better at the test/drill?

Accepted Answer

The point is not to get better at the test/drill. The goal is to induce a certain degree of cognitive fatigue that will add to the stress that you receive already from your body during training.

Question 37

What has research shown?

Accepted Answer

29 studies published between 2009 and April 2018 and focusing on the impact of mental fatigue on sport-related performance. Taken all studies together, it appears that mental fatigue impairs endurance performance, motor skills performance and decision-making performance https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328540159_The_effects_of_mental_fatigue_on_sport-related_performance Effects of Prior Cognitive Exertion on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis A total of 73 studies provided 91 comparisons with 2581 participants. Random effects meta-analysis showed a significant small-to-medium negative effect of prior cognitive exertion on physical performanceFindings demonstrate that cognitive exertion has a negative effect on subsequent physical performance that is not due to chance and suggest that previous meta-analysis results may have underestimated the overall effect. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-019-01204-8

Question 38

How is using an iPad/iPhone going to really improve sports skills?

Accepted Answer

As previously stated, the use of cognitive tasks (performed in front of a screen or the computer) targeted for inducing mental fatigue, can help your brain to cope better with fatigue even during a physical performance or sport-specific skill. Fatigue (either physical or mental) is a major component in sport and handling it well is a key factor for success.

Question 39

Is this type of training just for endurance athletes?

Accepted Answer

At the end of the day nearly every sport comes down to endurance. A major key component of winning in competition is making sure you can handle fatigue for longer than your opponent or competition. This also plays out in military and security industries. The side that can go harder, for longer, and make the least mistakes, and maintain their skills under fatigue, is the side that usually wins. Everybody regardless of the sport or industry is susceptible to fatigue, particularly mental or cognitive fatigue. When cognitive capacity is reduced and perception of effort is higher, it is harder for ANY HUMAN to continue to perform a task at the level they desire. So no, this is not just for endurance athletes and those competing in long races or competitions. Any individual with a brain is susceptible to fatigue and therefore will benefit from having a greater capacity for cognitive fatigue and more mental endurance.

Question 40

Where has your research been presented?

Accepted Answer

Our research has been presented at, ACSM Frontiers ECSS CONI Olympic Committee

Question 41

What research is behind Brain Endurance Training (BET)?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive overload with brain endurance training boosts performance in professional football players. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Brain Endurance Training (BET) to Reduce Fatigue During Endurance Exercise. Mental fatigue alters weight perception and increases RPE during resistance training sessions. Brain Endurance Training (BET) enhances endurance performance over physical training alone. Stretching the limits of cycling tolerance. Brain Endurance Training (BET) Elite Cycling Training Study. Neurophysiology of cognitive load

Question 42

How much does cognitive fatigue impact performance?

Accepted Answer

Mental fatigue in athletes reduces their ability to withstand physical fatigue and perform well under the given loads of the sport they are engaged in. Overall, elite sport today has an imperfect understanding of how mental fatigue is affecting their athletes' performance. Mental fatigue is largely overlooked. We tend to gravitate towards the improvement of physicality, and when we do train skills, there is a reduced understanding of how accessible those skills are when athletes are under intense pressure.

Question 43

How much does cognitive load influence performance?

Accepted Answer

Effects of Prior Cognitive Exertion on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis The effects of mental fatigue on sport-related performance Research in mental fatigue has also shown, Mental fatigue decreased cycling time to exhaustion by nearly 2 minutes (16% decline in performance). Athletes cycled at 80% of peak power for 12:34 (12 minutes and 34 seconds)  in the control condition but only 10:40 when mentally fatigued. Mental fatigue decreased power output during two 10-min self-paced cycling bouts. When mentally fatigued, athletes produced by 17.5% less power when cycling at a fairly light pace and 8% less power at a hard pace. Mental fatigue decreased time to exhaustion in a sub-maximal contraction of the knee extensors by an average of 36 seconds (13% decline in performance). Athletes were able to maintain the contraction for 4:26 in the control condition but only 3:50 when mentally fatigued. 29 studies published between 2009 and April 2018 and focusing on the impact of mental fatigue on sport-related performance. Taken all studies together, it appears that mental fatigue impairs endurance performance, motor skills performance and decision-making performance. Perception of effort, rather than severe locomotor muscle fatigue or intolerably unpleasant muscle pain, is the cardinal exercise stopper during high-intensity aerobic exercise. Fatigue impairs athletes’ ability to select actions optimally. Athletes’ involuntary attention and selective attention were damaged after mental fatigue. How much time are athletes spending conditioning the Brain? Virtually none. And it is a huge gap to fill. What a sporting competition really boils down to, is the sum of our neural decisions stacked up against our opponents overall total. Assuming physical prep is equal, if we make correct choices to pass, shoot and defend, then we will prevail. If they consistently outthink us, it won't matter if we can bench-press more weight or run a faster forty-yard dash: we may win the battle of conditioning but lose the war on the field. A finely tuned world-class physique cannot weave a puck through four defenders or place a ball in the top corner of the goal without the intricate set of commands needed from the brain. Yet, we spend a disproportionate amount of time trying to grow muscle and increase speed when the payoff would be much greater by focusing on cognitive instructions and decision-making quickness. — The Playmaker

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