Handbook of Mental Performance: Lessons from High Performance Domains

This extensive overview of mental performance optimization techniques offers both a state-of-the-art reference resource and comprehensive tool for those engaged in the management and implementation of mental performance programs.

The book is written by a combination of academic and operational experts from a wide range of high-performance domains, including the military, space programs, academia, executive coaching, and elite athlete coaching, who complement scientific analyses and overviews of current knowledge with their own experience. Divided into three parts, the book begins by providing a broad conceptual framework through which to embed the latter technical content. Part two looks specifically at the interventions, knowledge, skills, and techniques needed to improve mental performance for both individuals and teams. The final section pulls together the theory of the previous parts, taking a more practical approach by covering implementation, methodological plans on how to appraise new techniques, lessons learned based on the practical experience of the authors, and considerations regarding the necessary learning environment for mental performance improvement.

Pairing an overview of all available neurological, cognitive, and psychological interventions aimed at improving mental performance with a review of their implementation, this is a go-to guide for practitioners involved in managing mental performance and program managers looking at the implementation of a mental performance policy across a wide range of domains. It will also be of interest for courses on performance psychology and human performance in both an academic and professional environment.

The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

Nathalie Pattyn, MSc, MD, MPsy, PhD is Human Performance Professor, Royal Military Academy, Belgium.

Robin Hauffa, MD is a senior psychiatric resident at the Military Hospital in Berlin, Germany and the former Medical Advisor at the German Special Operations Component Command. He also serves as the Human Performance Advisor to the NATO SOF Medicine Development Initiative, Security and Defense Medicine at University College Cork, Ireland.