Witty SEM System and Cognitrom Assessment System: Novel Technological Methods to Predict Performance in Youth Rock Climbers

Background. Every new climbing route presents a novel cognitive and motor challenge. Assessing neurocognitive function in competitive rock climbers is an emerging area of research that may be utilized to assess and predict performance. Objectives. The aim was to compare two systems that evaluate cognitive function in their prediction of climbing performance in 17 youth elite climbers (all elite climbers from Romania who met the inclusion criteria). Methods. We utilized and compared two systems, one on a computer system that is operated with the subject not engaged in a motor task (Cognitrom) and one during a motor task (Witty SEM), more similar to neurocognitive challenges faced while climbing. We examined selected outcome measures from each system (spatial skills and reactivity with Cognitrom) and selected motor-cognitive outcome measures from Witty SEM (cognitive agility, visual memory, and visual processing speed). Results. From the Cognitrom, spatial skills were negatively associated with red-point performance in 21.7% of the cases. From Witty SEM, cognitive agility positively predicted red-point performance in 52.1% of the cases. Climbing experience and visual memory errors predict red-point climbing performance in 79.2% of the cases. Visual memory errors were negatively associated with climbing performance. Conclusion. Our results showed that neurocognitive parameters measured with Witty SEM were more strongly associated with climbing performance than the Cognitrom system.