Consider the following toy example:
DynamicModule[{t = 1, v = 2},
{Dynamic[(t = t + 1); {}, TrackedSymbols :> {v}],
Slider[Dynamic@v, {0, 10, 1}], Dynamic@v, Dynamic@t}
]
Why isn't the first Dynamic object updated? I added the empty list because I figured the problem might have been that the object is not updated if it's not displayed on the frontend, but that doesn't seem to be enough to make it work.

TrackedSymbolscan restrict default tracked symbols but can't extend it. So you need to addvtoDynamic'sfirst argument so it is in the default set in the first place.Dynamic[v; t =....]. – Kuba Nov 10 '18 at 21:36DynamicModule[{t = 1, v = 2}, ( Dynamic[v; t = t + 1;, TrackedSymbols :> {v}]; {Slider[Dynamic@v, {0, 10, 1}], Dynamic@v, Dynamic@t} )]doesn't work.DynamicModule[{t = 1, v = 2}, { Dynamic[v; t = t + 1; {}, TrackedSymbols :> {v}], {Slider[Dynamic@v, {0, 10, 1}], Dynamic@v, Dynamic@t} }]works but it's ugly – glS Nov 10 '18 at 21:40Spacer[0]instead of{}, or take a look atDynamicWrapperfor a more idiomatic approach. – Kuba Nov 10 '18 at 21:41