NTOA Honors BrainHQ for Enhancing Police Performance
The National Tactical Officers Association recognized BrainHQ for training that improves split-second decision-making.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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The National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) presented the Spirit of NTOA Award to BrainHQ at its annual SWAT team gathering. The award honors the platform's role in helping law enforcement agencies sharpen cognitive skills for high-stakes encounters.
Why it matters
Law enforcement organizations sought out this training to enhance officer performance and save lives by improving split-second decision-making. The program aims to provide officers with the cognitive tools necessary to navigate complex, high-pressure environments.
A study found that less than 6 hours of BrainHQ training resulted in a 29 percent improvement in overall accuracy and a 60 percent gain in withholding fire. These results follow more than 300 total studies demonstrating benefits associated with the platform.
The players
National Tactical Officers Association
This professional organization supports tactical law enforcement personnel through training, advocacy, and industry standards.
BrainHQ
This is a brain-training platform developed by Posit Science that utilizes exercises to improve cognitive function.
Dr. Henry Mahncke
He serves as the CEO of Posit Science, the parent company of the BrainHQ platform.
Dr. Mike Merzenich
He is a neuroscientist who led the research team responsible for building the BrainHQ platform.
The details
In a randomized study, researchers evaluated officers during live-fire shooting range tests where participants encountered targets holding either guns or cell phones. The training focuses on improving inhibition and split-second decisions to ensure officers can accurately distinguish between threats and non-threats.
Timeline
The NTOA began offering brain training in 2022.
The NTOA presented the Spirit of NTOA Award in October 2026.
Dr. Henry Mahncke is scheduled to speak at the Crisis Negotiations and Tactics conference during the week of October 26, 2026.
Legal Context
This recognition aligns with the NTOA annual SWAT team gathering, serving as a platform for disseminating advanced training methodologies to tactical units. It follows a four-year trend of law enforcement agencies increasingly adopting cognitive performance tools to meet evolving safety standards.
The adoption of these cognitive training programs aims to improve the accuracy of split-second decisions made by officers during high-stakes encounters. For the public, this may translate to increased safety and reduced incidents of misidentified threats in dangerous situations.
The takeaway
Cognitive training is increasingly being viewed as a critical component of professional preparation for high-stakes occupations. Integrating these mental exercises into regular routines may help professionals maintain better focus and inhibition under extreme pressure.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Law Enforcement across the country.
More information
For more information on the platform, access the BrainHQ free daily exercises.
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Do you believe digital brain training exercises can effectively improve performance in high-pressure work situations?
