Host Dirk Friel sits down with Dr. Scott Frey, author, neuroscientist, and psychologist, for a deep dive into the critical role that the brain plays in endurance sports performance.
Scott Frey explains how the brain is the “central command and control center” for both physical and cognitive performance, and how neuroplasticity—our brain’s ability to change—offers untapped potential for athletes. Scott breaks down how mental fatigue impacts physical output and why neglecting “brain tapering” could be holding you back on race day.
Discover the science behind neuroplasticity, actionable strategies to regulate stress and arousal, and why even top performers may be leaving “low-hanging fruit” on the table by not deloading cognitive stress before big events. Whether you’re coaching, competing, or striving for your personal best, this episode is packed with insights and practical tips to harness the power of your brain for peak performance.
Standout Quotes
On Rewiring Your Nervous System: “I mentioned earlier that this amazing discovery about neuroplasticity means that if we engage in structured kinds of behavioral training, we can literally reshape the circuitry of our nervous system.”
“The central governor idea, probably a lot of people are familiar with it, but the idea is that the brain is what puts the brakes on performance, to put it really simply in broad strokes.”
on the Brain’s Role in Performance
On The Brain’s Role in Endurance Sports: “So when you’re centrally fatigued, the the connectivity and how well these areas of the brain talk to one another is altered, and behaviorally, what happens is your perceived exertion for a given effort goes up.”
The negative loops start going, the rumination kicks up. Try talking out loud. Because you can’t talk out loud and talk inside and have two different dialogues going on at the same time.
ON MENTAL STRATEGIES AND PREPARATION
