Tracking the Corticospinal Responses to Strength Training

Overview

Journal Eur J Appl Physiol

Specialty Physiology

Date 2020 Feb 16

PMID 32060740

Citations 8

Authors

Joel Mason

Ashlyn K Frazer

Janne Avela

Alan J Pearce

Glyn Howatson

Dawson J Kidgell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The motor cortex (M1) appears to be a primary site of adaptation following both a single session, and repeated strength-training sessions across multiple weeks. Given that a single session of strength-training is sufficient to induce modification at the level of the M1 and corticospinal tract, this study sought to determine how these acute changes in M1 and corticospinal tract might accumulate across the course of a 2-week heavy-load strength-training program.

Methods: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to infer corticospinal excitability (CSE), intracortical facilitation (ICF), short and long-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI and LICI) and silent period duration prior to and following each training session during a 2-week heavy-load strength-training period.

Results: Following 2-weeks of strength-training, increases in strength (15.5%, P = 0.01) were accompanied by an increase in CSE (44%, P = 0.006) and reductions in both silent period duration (14%, P < 0.0001) and SICI (35%, P = 0.0004). Early training sessions acutely increased CSE and ICF, and acutely reduced silent period duration and SICI. However, later training sessions failed to modulate SICI and ICF, with substantial adaptations occurring offline between training sessions. No acute or retained changes in LICI were observed. Co-contraction of antagonists reduced by 36% following 2-weeks of strength-training.

Conclusions: Collectively, these results indicate that corticospinal plasticity occurs within and between training sessions throughout a training period in distinct early and later stages that are modulated by separate mechanisms of plasticity. The development of strength is akin to the previously reported changes that occur following motor skill training.

Citing Articles

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Can the cross-education of strength attenuate the impact of detraining after a period of strength training? A quasi-randomized trial.

Rowe G, Blazevich A, Taylor J, Pulverenti T, Haff G Eur J Appl Physiol. 2024; 124(10):1-16.

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Corticospinal and spinal responses following a single session of lower limb motor skill and resistance training.

Woodhead A, Rainer C, Hill J, Murphy C, North J, Kidgell D Eur J Appl Physiol. 2024; 124(8):2401-2416.

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Identifying the role of the reticulospinal tract for strength and motor recovery: A scoping review of nonhuman and human studies.

Akalu Y, Frazer A, Howatson G, Pearce A, Siddique U, Rostami M Physiol Rep. 2023; 11(14):e15765.

PMID: 37474275 PMC: 10359156. DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15765.

Altitude-induced effects on neuromuscular, metabolic and perceptual responses before, during and after a high-intensity resistance training session.

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PMID: 37209140 PMC: 10492878. DOI: 10.1007/s00421-023-05195-3.

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