Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Exercise and Muscle Performance01:27

Exercise and Muscle Performance

1.6K
Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
1.6K
Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor Unit Stimulation

1.9K
When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
1.9K
Motor Units01:13

Motor Units

4.5K
The motor unit is a fundamental component of the neuromuscular system and plays a crucial role in coordinating muscle contractions. It consists of a somatic motor neuron, which connects and controls multiple skeletal muscle fibers, forming a single functional segment. The axon of the motor neuron branches out and establishes synaptic connections known as neuromuscular junctions with individual muscle fibers within the motor unit.
Motor units come in different sizes, with smaller units...
4.5K
Muscle Stimulation Frequency01:22

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

2.6K
The contraction strength of muscles is regulated by motor neurons, which modulate the frequency of action potentials dispatched to the motor units based on the body's requirements. This process of varying the muscle stimulation frequency allows muscles to contract with a force that is precisely tailored to the needs of the moment, whether lifting a feather or a heavy box.
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...
2.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The effects of 6 weeks of high load or low-load blood flow restriction resistance exercise training on motor unit firing rates in males and females.

Journal of neurophysiology·2026
Same author

Motor unit firing rates increase in prepubescent youth following linear periodization resistance exercise training.

European journal of applied physiology·2024
Same author

Myofiber hypertrophy adaptations following 6 weeks of low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction in untrained males and females.

Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)·2023
Same author

Effects of continuous cycling training on motor unit firing rates, input excitation, and myosin heavy chain of the vastus lateralis in sedentary females.

Experimental brain research·2022
Same author

An examination of motor unit firing rates during steady torque of maximal efforts with either an explosive or slower rate of torque development.

Experimental physiology·2021
Same author

The reliability of the slopes and y-intercepts of the motor unit firing times and action potential waveforms versus recruitment threshold relationships derived from surface electromyography signal decomposition.

European journal of applied physiology·2021
Same journal

Short-term endurance training in the cold with layered clothing mitigates perceptual strain during exercise in the heat.

European journal of applied physiology·2026
Same journal

Sex comparisons across different indices of vascular health in recreationally active healthy adults.

European journal of applied physiology·2026
Same journal

Moderate altitude-mimicking CO-induced inhibition of hemoglobin oxygen binding decreased middle-distance swimming speed in male national-level swimmers.

European journal of applied physiology·2026
Same journal

Kinetics of submaximal DFA α1 prior and post maximal efforts in trained and highly trained male and female cyclists.

European journal of applied physiology·2026
Same journal

Effects of normobaric hypoxia and hyperthermia on ventilatory responses to high-intensity interval training bouts.

European journal of applied physiology·2026
Same journal

Does creatine supplementation improve strength and power in physically active individuals on a vegan diet? a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

European journal of applied physiology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 6, 2025

A Murine Model of Muscle Training by Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
08:24

A Murine Model of Muscle Training by Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Published on: May 9, 2012

21.2K

Resistance exercise training and the motor unit.

Trent J Herda1

  • 1Neuromechanics Laboratory, Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Kansas, 1301 Sunnyside Avenue, Room 101BE, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA. t.herda@ku.edu.

European Journal of Applied Physiology
|June 25, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Resistance exercise training (RET) enhances muscular strength, but its neural mechanisms, particularly motor unit (MU) behavior, remain unclear. This review discusses acute RET effects on MU activity and suggests future research directions.

Keywords:
Action potential waveformsFiring ratesMotor unitNeural adaptationsResistance exercise training

More Related Videos

Functional Isolation of Single Motor Units of Rat Medial Gastrocnemius Muscle
06:54

Functional Isolation of Single Motor Units of Rat Medial Gastrocnemius Muscle

Published on: December 26, 2020

5.4K
Dosage-Adjusted Resistance Training in Mice with a Reduced Risk of Muscle Damage
07:29

Dosage-Adjusted Resistance Training in Mice with a Reduced Risk of Muscle Damage

Published on: August 31, 2022

1.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 6, 2025

A Murine Model of Muscle Training by Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
08:24

A Murine Model of Muscle Training by Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Published on: May 9, 2012

21.2K
Functional Isolation of Single Motor Units of Rat Medial Gastrocnemius Muscle
06:54

Functional Isolation of Single Motor Units of Rat Medial Gastrocnemius Muscle

Published on: December 26, 2020

5.4K
Dosage-Adjusted Resistance Training in Mice with a Reduced Risk of Muscle Damage
07:29

Dosage-Adjusted Resistance Training in Mice with a Reduced Risk of Muscle Damage

Published on: August 31, 2022

1.9K

Area of Science:

  • Exercise Physiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Sports Science

Background:

  • Resistance exercise training (RET) is crucial for enhancing muscular strength, sports performance, and overall health.
  • The neural mechanisms underlying strength gains, especially motor unit (MU) involvement, are debated.
  • Existing research on RET's effects on MU firing rates yields mixed results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of acute resistance exercise training on motor unit behavior.
  • To identify factors contributing to mixed findings in current literature.
  • To offer guidance for future research on neural adaptations to RET.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on studies examining motor unit recordings after acute resistance exercise.
  • Analysis of methodological variations in RET programs, MU recording techniques, and contraction types.
  • Discussion of potential non-uniform motor unit behavior.

Main Results:

  • Evidence regarding changes in motor unit firing rates post-RET is inconsistent.
  • Discrepancies may stem from variations in training protocols, experimental methods, and muscle groups studied.
  • Non-uniform motor unit behavior is an under-explored factor.

Conclusions:

  • The precise neural adaptations, specifically concerning motor unit behavior, following resistance exercise require further investigation.
  • Standardization of research methodologies is needed for clearer insights.
  • Future studies should consider the heterogeneity of motor unit responses to resistance training.