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Science & Research

Our institute builds on decades of psychological research, combining applied science with innovation to advance human performance.

The Applied Science That Informs Our Work

Mental performance psychology is built on a strong foundation of research that explores motivation, focus, resilience, and stress regulation. The publications in the next section represent some of the many studies that validate and inspire the work we do at Premier Mindset Institute.

Key areas of applied research include:

  • Motivation Science: Understanding what drives sustained effort and goal pursuit.
  • Attention and Focus: Training the mind to manage distractions and pressure.
  • Stress Regulation: Balancing activation and recovery for peak performance.
  • Resilience and Mindset: Developing adaptability and confidence through challenging moments.

These insights form the backbone of our research, ensuring every tool and program we develop is backed by science.

Psychological Skills’ Impact on Performance

  • Birrer, D., & Morgan, G. (2010). Psychological skills training as a way to enhance an athlete’s performance in high‐intensity sports. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 20, 78-87.
  • Bordo, S., Costanzo, G., & Villani, D. (2025). Enhancing psychological skills and well-being in sport through an app-based blended intervention: a randomized controlled pilot study. BMC psychology, 13(1), 537.
  • Lochbaum, M., Stoner, E., Hefner, T., Cooper, S., Lane, A. M., & Terry, P. C. (2022). Sport psychology and performance meta-analyses: A systematic review of the literature. PloS one, 17(2), e0263408.
  • Reinebo, G., Alfonsson, S., Jansson-Fröjmark, M., Rozental, A., & Lundgren, T. (2024). Effects of psychological interventions to enhance athletic performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 54(2), 347-373.
  • Reyes-Bossio, M., Corcuera-Bustamante, S., Veliz-Salinas, G., Villas Boas Junior, M., Delgado-Campusano, M., Brocca-Alvarado, P., … & Brandão, R. (2022). Effects of psychological interventions on high sports performance: A systematic review. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 1068376.
  • Wang, W., Schweickle, M. J., Arnold, E. R., & Vella, S. A. (2025). Psychological interventions to improve elite athlete mental wellbeing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 55(4), 877-897.

Mental Skills Training Improving Performance

  • Buck, D. J. M., Hutchinson, J. C., Winter, C. R., & Thompson, B. A. (2016). The effects of mental imagery with video-modeling on self-efficacy and maximal front squat ability. Sports, 4(2), 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports4020023
  • Landers, D. M. (1983). The effects of mental practice on motor skill learning and performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of sport psychology, 5(1).
  • Röthlin, P., Horvath, S., Trösch, S., Holtforth, M. G., & Birrer, D. (2020). Differential and shared effects of psychological skills training and mindfulness training on performance-relevant psychological factors in sport: a randomized controlled trial. BMC psychology, 8(1), 80.
  • Si, X. W., Yang, Z. K., & Feng, X. (2024). A meta-analysis of the intervention effect of mindfulness training on athletes’ performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1375608.
  • Toth, A. J., McNeill, E., Hayes, K., Moran, A. P., & Campbell, M. (2020). Does mental practice still enhance performance? A 24 Year follow-up and meta-analytic replication and extension. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 48(May), p. 101672.

Biotech Tools Supporting Performance

  • Mirifar, A., Beckmann, J., & Ehrlenspiel, F. (2017). Neurofeedback as supplementary training for optimizing athletes’ performance: A systematic review with implications for future research. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 75, 419-432.
  • Pagaduan, J. C., Chen, Y. S., Fell, J. W., & Wu, S. S. X. (2020). Can heart rate variability biofeedback improve athletic performance? A systematic review. Journal of Human Kinetics, 73, 103.
  • Xiang, M. Q., Hou, X. H., Liao, B. G., Liao, J. W., & Hu, M. (2018). The effect of neurofeedback training for sport performance in athletes: A meta-analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 36, 114-122.

From foundational science to our own innovation.

PMI Mental Performance Research & Innovation

Building on the field’s established science, Premier Mindset Institute conducts its own applied research and product development to extend how mental performance principles are understood and used. Our goal is not to validate what’s already known — but to learn from real-world data and develop new ways to help people perform better, think clearer, and recover faster.

Our Research Methodology

Our approach combines:

  • Applied Science: Integrating established psychological principles into practical tools and performance programs.
  • Data-Driven Innovation: Collecting and analyzing data through our proprietary assessments and products.
  • Iterative Development: Continuously refining our methods and tools through field testing with athletes, teams, and organizations.
  • Collaboration: Partnering with psychologists, coaches, and technology experts to evolve mental performance practices.
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Research in Action

Our innovation spans across multiple platforms and programs, including:

  • Premier Mindset App: A self-guided tool that helps individuals build awareness and focus through structured mental training.
  • Performance Assessments: Proprietary tools designed to measure focus, motivation, and stress regulation.
  • Data Insights: Ongoing analysis that informs how we enhance training methods and organizational strategies.
Explore Our Data & Insights