Building a transdisciplinary expert consensus on the cognitive drivers of performance under pressure: An international multi-panel Delphi study

Abstract

IntroductionThe ability to perform optimally under pressure is critical across many occupations, including the military, first responders, and competitive sport. Despite recognition that such performance depends on a range of cognitive factors, how common these factors are across performance domains remains unclear. The current study sought to integrate existing knowledge in the performance field in the form of a transdisciplinary expert consensus on the cognitive mechanisms that underlie performance under pressure.MethodsInternational experts were recruited from four performance domains [(i) Defense; (ii) Competitive Sport; (iii) Civilian High-stakes; and (iv) Performance Neuroscience]. Experts rated constructs from the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework (and several expert-suggested constructs) across successive rounds, until all constructs reached consensus for inclusion or were eliminated. Finally, included constructs were ranked for their relative importance.ResultsSixty-eight experts completed the first Delphi round, with 94% of experts retained by the end of the Delphi process. The following 10 constructs reached consensus across all four panels (in order of overall ranking): (1) Attention; (2) Cognitive Control—Performance Monitoring; (3) Arousal and Regulatory Systems—Arousal; (4) Cognitive Control—Goal Selection, Updating, Representation, and Maintenance; (5) Cognitive Control—Response Selection and Inhibition/Suppression; (6) Working memory—Flexible Updating; (7) Working memory—Active Maintenance; (8) Perception and Understanding of Self—Self-knowledge; (9) Working memory—Interference Control, and (10) Expert-suggested—Shifting.DiscussionOur results identify a set of transdisciplinary neuroscience-informed constructs, validated through expert consensus. This expert consensus is critical to standardizing cognitive assessment and informing mechanism-targeted interventions in the broader field of human performance optimization.

Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Platform to Train Stress Management Skills for a Defense Workforce: Multisite, Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

“…Cognitive strategies, including goal setting and emotional and attentional control, have also been shown to positively impact psychological well-being in military personnel [22][23][24][25]. Although there is growing evidence on the benefit of training cognitive stress management skills in first responders and similar occupational cohorts [26][27][28][29][30], further research is required to inform best practice strategies on how to effectively implement and scale training within and across organizations. A major challenge in this context is that many workplace and training organizations deliver training as scheduled activities and in groups.…”

Cognitive fitness modulates gender differences in sleep and mental health among competitive athletes under chronic stress

“…The ingredients of cognitive fitness studied here were drawn from a theory-driven model ( Aidman, 2020 ) which in turn is based on Research Domain Criteria ( Clark et al, 2017 ) and supported by a transdisciplinary Delphi study ( Albertella et al, 2023 ). The cognitive fitness framework suggests that cognitive fitness factors, although initially trait-based, can be trained for sustained optimal performance ( Aidman et al, 2022 ; Albertella et al, 2023 ). Women competitive athletes in the current study reported poorer cognitive fitness in multiple domains.…”

“…As such, the possible interactive effects of cognitive fitness ( Aidman, 2020 ) and gender on sleep and mental health outcomes could have implications for intervention strategies with athletes. Indeed, the ingredients of cognitive fitness studied in the current paper have the potential to be modified to improve performance and wellbeing ( Balk and Englert, 2020 ; Aidman et al, 2022 ; Flood and Keegan, 2022 ; Albertella et al, 2023 ). The COVID-19 pandemic provided a naturalistic example of a global chronic stressor for us to explore the possible associations between cognitive fitness and gender with wellbeing under real-world conditions of high vulnerability.…”

Development and Content Validation of an Instrument Covering Care for Pregnant Women with Sickle Cell Disease

“…Potential study participants were identified through a curriculum search on the Lattes platform and in a multi-professional healthcare unit specializing in SCD care. Content validation was conducted using a round of the Delphi technique (20,21) with judges who had been selected for convenience, following the following inclusion criteria: Having at least one year of professional knowledge and experience in the subject and clinical practice and/or health management; holding at least an undergraduate degree. A total of 24 invitations were sent to professionals who met the criteria for participating as judges, with a response rate of 75 %.…”