I am Scott H. Frey, Ph.D., Ed.M., an award-winning scientist, mentor, and lifelong endurance athlete. For the past 30 years, I led a research program that focused on understanding the relationship between the brain and human performance.  Of course there is a lot more to my story. If you are curious about my education, peer-reviewed science, and background, visit the “About” page. Ready to unlock your full potential? Schedule a free consultation.

More than Legs and Lungs. My experiences and education have convinced me that the brain holds enormous and largely overlooked potential to revolutionize how we perform athletically and in life more generally. I left my career in academia and started Cerebral Performance to help individuals and teams harness this power. My approach diverges from traditional sport psychology. It is grounded in my expertise in brain and psychological science, and is informed by my practical insights and experiences as an endurance athlete and mentor.

My clients range from aspiring age-group to professional endurance athletes. They share a curiosity about what is possible within the context of their personal life circumstances and a drive to find out. Beyond the structured training, nutrition, and recovery protocols, they recognize that the difference between success and failure often comes down to the most neglected component of training, the brain.

Optimizing the Brain for Endurance Performance. Even if your legs are fresh, a fatigued brain will make the same workload feel much less tolerable. Rachet the intensity up a few notches and even the most hardened athlete will ease back much sooner than if their brain was less burdened.

Both physical and mental loads burden common brain networks that, among other things, contribute to our sense of perceived exertion. This matters because your perception of effort, rather than your muscles, is what “grabs the brakes” on performances lasting over a minute. Fortunately, research in my field of cognitive neuroscience reveals a way forward that capitalizes on the brain’s unique ability to reconfigure itself adaptively to challenges (i.e., neuroplasticity). Like a muscle, the brain gets stronger through repeated overload and rest, and we have developed protocols that selectively challenge and train particular brain networks. For instance, the clip at the top of this page shows patterns of brain activity in motor areas of the brain while people performed a task that required them to imagine movements in my lab. A growing abundance of evidence shows that targeted neurological training enhances physical performances by lowering perceived exertion, and lessening the impact of fatigue on critical functions including focused attention, reaction time, and decision-making when it matters most. Visit my “science” page for links to some recent peer-reviewed publications.

Like all training, getting this recipe correct is both a science and an art. Beyond neuroscience expertise, it requires experience, communication, and commitment. The key principles at work here are, however, familiar to coaches and experienced athletes alike — consistency, periodization, specificity, progressive overload, and recovery. 

Strengthening the Foundation. Successful athletes are humans first. The best training, nutrition, equipment etc will never be enough to achieve your full potential if the rest of your life is not in a reasonable state of balance. “Brain training” is certainly no exception. Stressors outside of competition have a profound impact on our ability to perform. Helping athletes to identify and manage these effectively is of paramount importance to their success and constitutes a key aspect of my work. This requires our developing a collaborative relationship based on open communication, trust, accessibility, and mutual respect. For this reason, the number of clients that I work with one-on-one is kept small.

If this sounds interesting, you are welcome to contact me at the email address below. We can set a time to discuss your interests and goals, and see whether I may be able to help. Also, check out the Coaching to learn more about my work with individuals and groups.

Interested in what we can add to your event, team, or training camp? Drop us a note to discuss a customized program to meet your needs and goals.

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Testimonials

Everyone focuses on Training, some of us try to focus on everything else as well, like nutrition, lifestyle, resting, among others, but just a few, the ones that are winning competitions, are focusing on one of the most important things, the BRAIN! Over the past six-months, he has helped me to identify my limiters and he has worked together with my coach to implement some novel strategies aimed at turning these into strengths. This is not your typical sport psych approach. My race results have improved significantly, and I am on-target to achieve my goals at UTMB and the Trail Running World Championships. I highly recommend Scott.
Nicolas Palacios
Runner
Chile
I first met Scott, when he came on our show as a neuroscientist. His very unique expertise made for an exciting episode. But, since then I’ve gotten to know Scott as a high-performing athlete and coach. He understands athletes but also brings a perspective that most of mainstream sport science has overlooked. The combination of his unique understanding of the science along with his ability to apply it working empathetically with athletes makes him a great choice for athletes at all levels to improve their performance.
Trevor Connor
Founder, Fast Talk Labs
Working with Scott has me excited about where I can take my running; it feels like the sky is the limit.  It has become quite evident that myself and most other athletes, from the front to the back of the pack, are leaving a lot on the table by neglecting their mental game.  He has helped me understand my biggest performance obstacle is between my ears, but even more important, is helping me build my toolbox to turn this into my greatest advantage.  Scott is not only an expert on the science but is an athlete himself who knows how to win!
Matthew Bradner
Ultra Runner
Iowa
After completing my PhD in neuroscience, I joined Scott’s group to further my academic and research training. Little did I know that Scott’s mentorship would have such a profound impact on my life. Through his guidance and leadership, I gained a newfound clarity about my career path, my values, and my purpose. Today, I lead my own group, and the principles I live by and the ambitions I strive for are deeply influenced by Scott. I believe his influence will always be a part of who I am.
Ken Valyear, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer
Wales
Our organization has had the privilege of benefiting from the expertise and wisdom of Emeritus Professor Scott Frey. Initially joining as a part-time presenter, Professor Frey quickly became an integral part of our team, contributing as a presenter, content writer, and valuable asset in various projects.

One notable accomplishment is his completion of a comprehensive White Paper, which exemplifies his continued commitment to research and his ability to provide valuable insights. His contributions have greatly enhanced the depth and quality of our courses.

Professor Frey’s teaching style has garnered immense admiration from our course students. His ability to engage and inspire learners has resonated deeply, and his impact on their educational journey is
undeniable.

We eagerly look forward to continuing our fruitful association with Professor Frey. His vast experience and expertise are invaluable assets, and we are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a distinguished academic.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation for his significant contributions and unwavering dedication to academia and our organization.
John Grant
CEO, Neuro Change Institute ®
Australia