Exercise works by stimulating NERVES, not just muscles, study finds

>>42223025
Examined even further, each man was strapped to a machine that supplied an electric current to the nerves that stimulated the leg muscles. This electrical stimulation device was used for a basis of comparison to determine how each participant’s nerve cells could achieve 100 percent efficiency, which cannot be achieved through exercise alone. Researchers repeated this test several times over three weeks. During this trial period, the team saw that those who lifted light weights increased their nerve capacity from 90.7 percent to 90.22 percent, which is hardly a difference. Those who lifted heavy weights, on the other hand, increased their nerve capacity by 2.35 percent, with a jump from 90.94 percent to 93.29 percent.

Professor Nathaniel Jenkins, who conducted the research, hypothesized that the increase in nerve capacity directly translated into muscle strength. He claims that high-load training is “more efficient” and prompts “greater [neural cell] adaptations.”

>>42223031
Bigger is not always better

The assumption that bigger bodies are stronger is misleading. There is evidence that proves that those with a bigger frame are more capable of carrying heavier loads; but this is not entirely inclusive nor conclusive of strength. Body-building experts, along with medical professionals, are now noting a distinct nuance between body mass and strength. Most indicative of strength, these professionals say, is how well-engaged motor neurons are.

The power of a muscle’s contraction is heavily reliant on neural associations. The more motor neurons are activated, as well as the strength of impulse sent by each cell, determine the quantity of muscle fibers that contract. Heavy weight lifting is more effective in making motor neurons act more efficiently. In a sedentary person, motor neurons still discharge impulses, but in a disorderly fashion. Constant training improves this process, generating more powerful nerve impulses. To fully reach this state, people should perform weight training exercises with loads that are 80 percent of their maximum strength.

Understand the hidden implication of this: there will be days when one feels stronger. This has nothing to do with the size of the muscles, but the efficiency of the central nervous system. People who are not well-rested will feel minute differences in their overall strength.

Don't be a Manlet, Don't be a Brainlet

I assume you haven't read the Sticky.

File: wmaf.jpg (108KB, 960x720px) Image search: [Google]

108KB, 960x720px

>>42223025
...didn't everybody already know this? It's the whole reason noobs quickly improve their lifts without building much muscle. It's the reason neural fatigue feels different from metabolic fatigue. It's why you lower the weight when you switch to a slightly different lift (eg dbell vs barbell benching). Etc.

>Learning

is this why resistance exercise staves off dementia like illnesses in aging population?

>>42223042
>are now noting...
Nigga this is old news. Quit being a pretend doctor.
>>42223031
Nerve capacity? What exactly are you talking about? Are you talking about ACh release, firing frequency, what?

>>42223882
No. We don't know why exercise staves off dementia in the elderly. What OP is trying to say is that training with heavy weight causes a greater proportion of a muscle to contract in response to your brain telling it to contract.

>>42223025
Old news

>>42223025
cns adaptation, already an established thing.

>>42223025
>light weight lifting builds muscle mass, heavy weight lifting makes muscles stronger. The reason behind this, researchers say, is due to the neural connections the brain and body make while lifting heavy weights.

You fucking wot, m8 I discovered this the literal first day of lifting. God damn it.

>>42224323
>We don't know why
You mean you don't know why.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24120943