Pilot Program among Police Officers Shows Measurable Improvement in Relevant Cognitive Skills
SHARP MIND and Posit Science have joined forces to offer targeted brain training to people in high-risk jobs, like law enforcement officers, military personnel, security officers, and industrial workers. SHARP MIND, a company dedicated to using advances in Neuroscience and Psychology for optimal performance and safety in the work place, now offers specialized training programs to improve brain fitness, specifically, the ability to think faster, react more quickly, notice and remember more detail, focus better, and recognize and react appropriately to facial expressions and body language cues. The training allows individuals to be more focused, vigilant and resistant to the complacency that can lead to injury and harm, and aims to give people in high-risk jobs the mental sharpness and edge they need to function safely and productively in dangerous and unpredictable environments.
SHARP MIND founder Gary Lambert says, “Work, and the environments where work occurs, will only be more complex in the future. Having individuals with the mental sharpness and capacity to function optimally in these complex environments is advantageous for everyone.”
In a pilot program with the City of Richmond Police in Virginia the following results were attained following SHARP MIND/Posit Science training:
Results Attained
- 393% Improvement in Visual Reaction Times
- 395% Improvement in the Speed to Correctly Match Facial Expressions With Emotions
- +100% Difference in Impulse Control Between Recruits vs. Experienced SWAT Team Members
- 66% Increase in the Ability to Track Multiple Items With Distractions
- 23% Improvement in the Ability to Remember Faces
Ability Reflected
- Think Faster/React Quicker
- React Faster to Body Language Cues
- Demonstrate Impulse Control
- Notice and Remember More Detail
- Recognize and Remember Faces
“People in these types of high-risk jobs can especially benefit from proven brain training exercises,” says Michael Merzenich, PhD, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Posit Science. “When you’re a police officer, every millisecond counts.” He adds, “The ability to make the best decision in a split second can literally mean the difference between life and death. ”
SHARP MIND is a new venture founded by Gary Lambert. For the past 25 years, Dr. Lambert, an I/O Psychologist, has served in various HR/OD leadership roles with Fortune 500 companies, consulting firms, colleges, and universities, helping people continually learn, grow, develop and perform their best. Through roles including Director of Leadership Development at CarMax, VP of Talent Management at LandAmerica Financial Group and Manager of Career and Professional Development at Northrop-Grumman, Gary has demonstrated expertise in creating learning and development programs that get results and provide a solid return on investment.
Lambert says, “SHARP MIND works collaboratively with clients to create programs that influence their most important outcomes and measure a return on investment (ROI). Making good decisions in stressful situations reduces risk and creates tremendous economic and personal benefits, including fewer accidents, decreased damage to property and equipment, less personal injury and/or fatalities, decreased workers comp/disability claims, less use of excessive force, fewer complaints, decreased likelihood of lawsuits, and so forth.”
For more information about SHARP MIND LLC please contact Gary G. Lambert, Ph.D. at (804-869-7751, gglambert@comcast.net, www.sharpmindllc.com).
About SHARP MIND LLC
SHARP MIND LLC is a company dedicated to using advances in Neuroscience and Psychology for optimal performance and safety in the work place. Our training programs improve brain fitness, specifically, the ability to think faster/react quicker, notice and remember more detail, focus better, and recognize and react appropriately to facial expressions and body language cues. Training allows individuals to be more focused, vigilant and resistant to the complacency that can lead to injury and harm. We give individuals in high-risk jobs, such as law enforcement officers, military personnel, security officers, and industrial workers, the mental sharpness and edge they need to function safely and productively in dangerous and unpredictable environments.