Brain-Training for Battle: The Army’s Neurofeedback Edge

In the high-stakes world of modern warfare, a soldier’s mental resilience can be just as critical as their physical preparedness. The U.S. Army has adopted neurofeedback—an advanced form of biofeedback using real-time EEG—to help soldiers better regulate stress, sharpen focus, and improve recovery from trauma.

Pre-Deployment & Tactical Training

Before deployment, soldiers undergo neurofeedback sessions to develop resilience under pressure. For instance, protocols enhancing beta brainwaves have demonstrated improved attention and stress regulation in military trainees. In one study, rifle shooters completed fifteen 60-minute sessions over five weeks, showing marked performance gains—strong evidence of transfer from training to tactical task resilience.

Combat & Operational Stages

Neurofeedback training isn’t just for live-fire drills. Research suggests that real-time monitoring of neural or physiological signals enables adjustments to stress regulation protocols even in theater. While deep studies during combat are still emerging, the Army’s holistic performance framework anticipates in-mission use to sustain cognitive readiness.

Within the Army’s Resilience Ecosystem

Neurofeedback training complements programs like Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2)—which blends mindset training, fitness, and performance under stress—and Battlemind, which facilitates mental transitions from combat to home life. The Brain Performance Center has had multiple contracts with the Department of Defense to help increase resilience and performance within the Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2) program.

Key Benefits for Soldiers

• Sharper focus under stress – enhanced attentional control during operations
• Emotional self-regulation – improved coping during and after combat
• Faster PTSD recovery – less restless nights, reduced irritability, better emotional insight
• Performance optimization – better decision-making, energy management, and situational awareness

Building a More Resilient Force

The U.S. Army’s adoption of neurofeedback reflects a growing shift: mental fitness now complements physical training in preparing soldiers for modern challenges. By directly training the brain to perform under pressure—and to recover in the aftermath—neurofeedback is transforming how we build resilience in those who serve.