Effects of Imagining Fast Versus Slow Muscle Contractions on Muscle Function and Brain Activity in Healthy Adults Aged 18 to 30

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether imagining fast or slow muscle contractions produces different effects on nervous system excitability and muscle function in healthy young adults aged 18 to 30. The study compares two intervention conditionsimagining fast muscle contractions and imagining slow muscle contractionswith a control condition of rest. The main questions are whether imagined fast contractions cause greater nervous system responses and improve muscle function more than slow contractions or rest. Participants will attend four laboratory visits in a randomized order, including a familiarization session, a control session with rest, and two sessions involving imagined muscle contractions. During the imagined contraction visits, participants will perform two sets of 25 repetitions of either fast less than 1 second to peak torque or slow 3 seconds to peak torque isometric elbow flexions without any physical movement. Before and after each condition, non-invasive brain stimulation using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation will be applied to measure motor cortex responses, and muscle strength tests will be conducted. Throughout the study, researchers will measure changes in muscle strength, rate of torque development, and muscle activation via electromyography. Assessments include motor-evoked potentials and silent periods in the bicep muscle to evaluate corticospinal excitability and inhibition. Participants will be monitored for nervous system and muscle function changes at baseline and 20 minutes after each condition. The study is conducted by Kennesaw State University and includes healthy volunteers aged 18 to 30 years.

Influence of Fast and Slow Imagined Muscle Contractions on Muscle Function or Central Nervous System Properties