Dr. Nathalie Pattyn, a professor of Human Performance (Royal Military Academy in Belgium, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), discusses their recent handbook on mental performance to provide a holistic view on mental performance aimed at researchers and practitioners working with high-performing individuals, such as military personnel and athletes. The book’s approach is comprehensive, covering foundational aspects like cognition and emotion and also addressing practical techniques such as mindfulness, relaxation, and breathing exercises that improve mental and emotional resilience. Pattyn touches on the distinctions and intersections between mental performance and mental health, emphasizing that achieving high performance does not always equate to well-being. She notes the challenge practitioners face in balancing performance enhancement and ethical care for the individual, as overachievement can sometimes serve as a coping mechanism with hidden psychological costs. One highlight is the integration of practical “restorative techniques” in the book, which are designed to reduce stress and over-activation—common challenges for elite performers. Techniques such as mindfulness and tactical breathing are explored for their scientifically backed benefits. Pattyn points out that while techniques these techniques are often underestimated, they offer a potent, accessible tool for self-regulation. She also reflects on the importance of customizing mental performance programs to fit the unique needs of each population, mentioning her experiences developing programs for elite Belgian military units. Dr. Pattyn advocates for having embedded practitioners within organizations to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. In closing, she acknowledges the expanding field of mental performance and expresses optimism about the book serving as a valuable resource for both theory and hands-on implementation in high-performance settings.
About
Dr. Nathalie Pattyn, MSc, MD, MPsy, PhD, is a distinguished professor in Human Performance at the Royal Military Academy (RMA) in Belgium and an Associate Professor in Physiopathology at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. She directs the VIPER research unit at RMA, where she investigates human performance in extreme environments and elite populations, including astronauts and special forces candidates. Her work has led to a robust collaboration with Prof. Simonelli’s team at the Université de Montréal, enhancing research on sleep, chronobiology, and performance in polar regions.
Dr. Pattyn earned her medical degree from Université Libre de Bruxelles in 2001, a Master’s in Clinical Psychology in 2004, and dual PhDs in Psychological Sciences and Social and Military Sciences in 2007. Her PhD research focused on cognitive performance in aviation and space. She holds numerous postgraduate qualifications, including Aerospace Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Disaster Medicine, and a Master’s in Global and Remote Healthcare.
An emergency physician and flight surgeon with experience in Afghanistan and Antarctica, Dr. Pattyn spent over two years deployed to Antarctica, including a 15-month tenure as a station physician at the Halley VI Research Station, where she set up a biomedical research lab for the European Space Agency.
Her research, recognized by awards like the André Kahn award for sleep research and the American Physiological Society’s monthly award, emphasizes psychophysiological performance metrics and human factors in isolated environments.
Podcast
Audio podcast
Topics in the podcast
Purpose and Motivation for the Book
Defining Mental Performance vs. Mental Health
Dr. Pattyn emphasizes the distinction between mental performance—efficiently processing information—and mental health. High achievement doesn’t guarantee well-being, as overachievement can sometimes mask psychological challenges. The book explores how these domains interact and the importance of balancing them.
Practical Techniques: Restorative Practices
Discussed as essential for sustaining performance, restorative techniques like mindfulness, breathing exercises, and yoga help rebalance the nervous system by promoting parasympathetic activation. These practices, essential for high-stress fields like the military, must be practiced consistently to be effective under pressure.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations in High Performance
Ethical dilemmas arise when practitioners must weigh enhancing performance against safeguarding mental health. In high-performance settings, practitioners sometimes encounter clients who sacrifice health for achievement, a tension the book addresses, especially in military contexts where resilience is prioritized over well-being.
Cultural Adaptation of Techniques
Mindfulness is discussed as a high-impact method due to its evidence-based benefits and adaptability across fields, including military and sports. The book encourages tailoring these practices to fit different cultural settings, stressing the role of embedded practitioners who understand both the techniques and the specific cultural context.
Implementation in Elite Military Units
Dr. Pattyn shares insights from implementing performance programs for the Belgian Special Forces, highlighting the need for embedded practitioners and customized approaches that respect the military’s rigorous demands. Effective implementation requires close collaboration with the client population and sensitivity to their operational realities.
Relaxation and Breathing
Techniques like heart rate variability training and progressive muscle relaxation are emphasized for their role in reducing stress. Breathing, a fundamental self-regulation tool that requires no special equipment, is highlighted as one of the most accessible and effective techniques to maintain psychophysiological balance.
The book
