ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the contribution of neural changes to the adaptations of the neuromuscular system in response to practice and training. The main goal is to emphasize that these adaptations can be elicited with a variety of interventions, but that a more focused drive is necessary to optimize the improvements to a given task. To that end, the chapter addresses three topics: (1) the task specificity of muscle activation, (2) the acute adjustments and long-term neural adaptations to ballistic (fast) contractions, and (3) these same adjustments and adaptations to unilateral exercise.
