While our technology provides a more accessible form of practice, our primary goal at Nexsa is to make athlete's practice more effective, with the ultimate aim of pushing the limits of human capabilities to achieve feats never seen before. We achieve this by leveraging well-researched principles to build technology that enhances performance in ways traditional practice alone cannot match. The following research highlights the proven strategies we are using to revolutionize training.

 

At the core of our technology is mental practice, which has been proven to enhance performance when paired with physical training. A comprehensive meta-analysis by Driskell, Copper, and Moran (1994) examined data from 35 studies with over 3,200 participants across various skill domains and found that while physical practice is more effective than mental practice alone, studies that specifically tested a combination of mental and physical practice consistently reported an additional 10-15% improvement over physical practice alone. This combined approach is particularly valuable in fields such as sports, where athletes can mentally rehearse techniques before physically performing them, maximizing both cognitive encoding and muscle memory development​.

 

While high-level athletes have long leveraged mental practice, we sought to make it even more effective by introducing videos to enhance the visualization process. Watching videos of your actions doesn't just show you the correct technique, it actually activates the same areas of your brain as if you were physicall performing the movement. Research by Calvo-Merino et al. (2005), using fMRI to measure brain activity, shows that when you watch videos of people performing actions, your brain activates the same areas it would if you were doing it yourself. This happens because of a system in your brain called mirror neurons, which allow you to “mirror” the actions you see. So, when performed correctly, you are not just observing the videos but also training your brain and reinforcing the movements, making it easier to improve your skills.

 

Building on the power of video visualization, the next level of enhancement is to deepen the immersion by using first-person videos. This creates a heightened sense of embodiment, where the brain no longer distinguishes between observing and doing. This approach aligns with research by Hardy and Callow (1999), which shows that first-person visualization is more effective than third-person visualization for improving motor performance. Their study found that when athletes visualize themselves performing actions from their own perspective, it activates the sensory-motor connections in the brain, leading to stronger neural pathways and better execution of skills. The sensory-motor system refers to the neural pathways that connect sensory inputs (like sight and hearing) with motor actions, essentially enabling us to process movements and carry them out effectively. By using first-person videos, our technology helps activate these crucial sensory-motor connections better, amplifying the benefits of visualization and accelerating skill development.

 

Finally, the last piece to our technology is YOU. While watching other athletes perform can certainly offer valuable insights, research shows that watching your own successes has a far greater impact on your performance and confidence. Stone (2010) found that athletes who watched highlight reels of successful plays were more motivated and performed better in subsequent tasks. The act of witnessing success, particularly in a high-energy, edited format, activates the brain's reward systems, boosting confidence and focus. Furthermore, similarly to how first-person videos create a heightened sense of embodiment compared to third-person perspectives, watching videos of yourself, rather than others, strengthens your connection to the actions, enhancing the effect. Stone reveals that athletes who watched clips of their personal bests experienced a marked increase in self-confidence and were significantly more likely to replicate their success in future performances. In fact, Stone observed that athletes who viewed their own highlights showed measurable improvement in performance compared to those who watched highlights of others.

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At Nexsa, we combine these cutting-edge principles to create a training experience unlike any other. A training experience that does not just help you practice but accelerates your progress beyond traditional methods. Ready to take your performance to the next level? Sign up today and experience the future of training.