Applying Neuroscience to Enhance Tactical Leader Cognitive Performance in Combat

<p>The US Army relies on tactical-level leaders not for their physical warfighting skills but for their ability to employ cognitive thought during stressful situations. Cognitive tasks include sensing patterns deciphering complex environments creating novel solutions and synchronizing multiple battlefield systems to name but a few. The physiological response to combat can degrade that cognitive capability preventing leaders from performing tasks critical to unit success. This thesis approached tactical combat leadership from a brain-based perspective seeking ways to enhance leader cognitive performance. To do so it explored the physiological aspects of threat response and examined the field of neuroscience to understand brain function. Relevant to combat leadership are the principles that: (1) the brain sacrifices cognitive resources to respond emotionally (2) stress degrades the form of conscious attention know as working memory and (3) certain brain areas can be deliberately activated to exert control over emotions. Further research resulted in a menu of techniques that tactical leaders can use to regulate the emotional response and improve cognitive performance in combat.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>