KoopCast The Brain’s Role in Ultrarunning Performance with Scott Frey, PhD (2024) #240
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Apr 17, 2025 Dr. Scott Frey, an internationally renowned neuroscientist and endurance athlete, delves into the brain's pivotal role in ultrarunning. He discusses how understanding fatigue encompasses both mental and physiological factors, urging athletes to recognize misjudgments in their perceived limits. Innovative training techniques for mastering uncertainty in races are highlighted, along with strategies to enhance mental resilience. Additionally, Frey critiques traditional studies on mental fatigue, advocating for a holistic approach to training that balances cognitive and physical endurance.
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Angelo Mosso's Early Fatigue Study
- Angelo Mosso showed that mental fatigue reduces muscle work capacity, a finding from the late 1800s.
- He tested colleagues' finger strength before and after prolonged mental tasks, revealing central fatigue effects.
Fatigue is Multifactorial
- Fatigue involves both peripheral physiological and central brain mechanisms that influence endurance.
- Perceptions and motivation play conscious and subconscious roles in determining performance limits.
Perception Influences Performance Limits
- Athletes often have more reserve than they realize due to misperceptions about effort and task endpoints.
- Blocking sensory input doesn't change perceived exertion much, showing perception is complex and partly predictive.