Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) is central to human strength and function. Beyond muscle morphology, neural mechanisms\u2014cortical and spinal excitability\/inhibition, motor unit recruitment, and descending drive\u2014critically constrain MVC. This narrative review integrates evidence on intracortical inhibition, afferent feedback, M1 neuroplasticity, and corticospinal dynamics, highlighting latent capacity to exceed conventional MVC via targeted modulation. We categorize translational strategies into four domains: cognitive-behavioral (verbal encouragement, goal priming), afferent-driven approaches, pharmacological agents (e.g., caffeine), and neuromodulatory stimulation. Evidence indicates these methods can acutely or subacutely enhance MVC, with promising relevance to older adults, athletes, and clinical populations. However, heterogeneity in protocols, dosing, and outcome measures limits comparability and mechanistic clarity. We outline priority directions to standardize metrics, refine neurophysiological endpoints (e.g., SICI, TMS silent period), and tailor context-specific<\/p>\n
interventions. Advancing mechanism-based modulation of excitatory\/inhibitory circuits may optimize rehabilitation and performance.<\/p>\n
\u7b4b\u5f62\u614b\u3092\u8d85\u3048\u3001M1\u30fb\u76ae\u8cea\u810a\u9ac4\u8def\u306e\u8208\u596e\/\u6291\u5236\u304cMVC\u3092\u898f\u5b9a\u3002\u8a8d\u77e5\u30fb\u6c42\u5fc3\u6027\u30fb\u85ac\u7406\u30fb\u795e\u7d4c\u523a\u6fc0\u3067\u6f5c\u5728\u529b\u3092\u5f15\u304d\u51fa\u3057\u3001\u81e8\u5e8a\u30fb\u7af6\u6280\u306b\u5fdc\u7528\u53ef\u80fd\u3002\u6a19\u6e96\u5316\u3068\u6a5f\u5e8f\u89e3\u660e\u304c\u8ab2\u984c\u3002<\/p>\n
Morphology vs. neural drive:<\/strong> Muscle architecture, fiber types, and CSA underpin strength, yet complete motor-unit activation often fails even at maximal effort.<\/p>\n Supraspinal limitations:<\/strong> Insufficient descending drive and psychological inhibitory factors have been shown to cap MVC.<\/p>\n Inhibition\/fatigue markers:<\/strong> SICI reductions and shorter TMS silent periods accompany strength training; supraspinal and central fatigue reduce voluntary activation.<\/p>\n Integration:<\/strong> Synthesize neural substrates of MVC, emphasizing latent capacity beyond conventional thresholds.<\/p>\n Framework:<\/strong> Classify interventions into cognitive-behavioral, afferent-driven, pharmacological, and neuromodulatory domains with evidence of MVC enhancement.<\/p>\n Translational insights:<\/strong> Highlight applicability to aging, sports, and rehabilitation, and the need for standardized protocols.<\/p>\n This article is a narrative review; therefore, it does not report the development of novel measurement or intervention methods. However, from a neurophysiological perspective, it introduces potential intervention approaches that could be further developed in future research.<\/p>\n Clinical:<\/strong> Enhances rehabilitation outcomes and reduces fall risk and functional limitations.<\/p>\n Sports:<\/strong> Boosts acute performance and accelerates strength adaptations.<\/p>\n Aging:<\/strong> Improves gait stability and quality of life, potentially lowering healthcare burdens.<\/p>\n Standardization:<\/strong> Harmonize protocols and outcome metrics; establish dose\u2013response. Strength ceilings are set by neural circuits, not just muscle. By reducing inhibition and amplifying excitability, cognitive, afferent, pharmacological, and neuromodulatory interventions can safely unlock latent MVC capacity. Mechanism-driven neural modulation offers a path to clinically and athletically meaningful gains across aging, sport, and rehabilitation.<\/p>\n \u203b1\u3000MVC\u3000\uff08\u6700\u5927\u968f\u610f\u7b4b\u53ce\u7e2e\uff09<\/p>\n \u203b2\u3000M1 \uff08\u4e00\u6b21\u904b\u52d5\u91ce\uff09<\/p>\n \u203b3\u3000Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation\uff08\u7d4c\u982d\u84cb\u78c1\u6c17\u523a\u6fc0\uff1aTMS\uff09<\/p>\n \u203b4\u3000Silent period\u3000TMS\u3067M1\u3092\u523a\u6fc0\u3057\u305f\u5f8c\u306b\u3001\u7b4b\u96fb\u56f3\uff08EMG\uff09\u6d3b\u52d5\u304c\u4e00\u6642\u7684\u306b\u6291\u5236\u3055\u308c\u3066\u300c\u6c88\u9ed9\u300d\u3059\u308b\u6642\u9593\u306e\u3053\u3068\u3002<\/p>\n \u96d1\u8a8c\u540d\uff0fJournal\uff1a Frontiers in Physiology<\/p>\n \u8ad6\u6587\u540d\uff0fTitle\uff1a Enhancing Human Strength via Neural Modulation: Mechanisms of Maximal Voluntary Contraction and Translational Interventions<\/p>\n \u57f7\u7b46\u8005\u540d\u30fb\u6240\u5c5e\u6a5f\u95a2\u540d\uff0fAuthors and Affiliated Organization\uff1a Yudai Takarada (Waseda University)<\/p>\n Publishment Date\uff08Local Time\uff09\uff1a5 November 2025<\/p>\n Publishment Date\uff08Japan Time\uff09\uff1a<\/p>\n \uff08\u30aa\u30f3\u30e9\u30a4\u30f3\u63b2\u8f09\u306e\u5834\u5408\uff0fFor online publication\uff09<\/p>\n URL : https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/physiology\/articles\/10.3389\/fphys.2025.1695665\/full<\/p>\n DOI\uff1a10.3389\/fphys.2025.1695665<\/p>\n \u7814\u7a76\u8cbb\u540d\uff0fResearch Fund\uff1aThe Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI Grant Number JP25K14752<\/p>\n \u7814\u7a76\u8ab2\u984c\u540d\uff0fResearch Subject\uff1a\u5c40\u6240\u7684\u306a\u8840\u6d41\u5236\u9650\u4e0b\u306e\u7b4b\u53ce\u7e2e\u4e2d\u306e\u904b\u52d5\u30b7\u30b9\u30c6\u30e0\u6d3b\u52d5\u72b6\u614b\u3068\u306f\u4f55\u304b<\/p>\n \u7814\u7a76\u4ee3\u8868\u8005\u540d\u30fb\u6240\u5c5e\u6a5f\u95a2\u540d\uff0fResearch Representative and Affiliated Organization\uff1aYudai Takarada (Waseda University)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u304a\u554f\u3044\u5408\u308f\u305b\uff1a<\/p>\n \u6240\u6ca2\u7dcf\u5408\u4e8b\u52d9\u30bb\u30f3\u30bf\u30fc\u3000\u30b9\u30dd\u30fc\u30c4\u79d1\u5b66\u7814\u7a76\u30bb\u30f3\u30bf\u30fc\u62c5\u5f53<\/p>\n tokojimu-soumu@list.waseda.jp<\/a><\/p>\n \u5b9d\u7530\u3000\u96c4\u5927<\/p>\n\u4eca\u56de\u306e\u7814\u7a76\u3067\u65b0\u305f\u306b\u5b9f\u73fe\u3057\u3088\u3046\u3068\u3057\u305f\u3053\u3068\u3001\u660e\u3089\u304b\u306b\u306a\u3063\u305f\u3053\u3068\uff0fFindings<\/h3>\n
\u305d\u306e\u305f\u3081\u306b\u65b0\u3057\u304f\u958b\u767a\u3057\u305f\u624b\u6cd5\uff0fMethods developed<\/h3>\n
\u7814\u7a76\u306e\u6ce2\u53ca\u52b9\u679c\u3084\u793e\u4f1a\u7684\u5f71\u97ff\uff0fResearch implications to the society<\/h3>\n
\u4eca\u5f8c\u306e\u8ab2\u984c\uff0fFuture issues<\/h3>\n
\nMechanisms:<\/strong> Clarify causal roles of excitatory\/inhibitory circuits and validate neurophysiological endpoints.
\nContext-specificity:<\/strong> Tailor interventions to populations and goals; assess durability.<\/p>\n\u7814\u7a76\u8005\u306e\u30b3\u30e1\u30f3\u30c8\uff0fResearcher\u2019s Comment<\/h3>\n
\u7528\u8a9e\u89e3\u8aac\uff0fTerminology<\/h3>\n
\u8ad6\u6587\u60c5\u5831\uff08\u63b2\u8f09\u3055\u308c\u305f\u5834\u5408\uff09\uff0fJournal Information (if published)<\/h3>\n
\u7814\u7a76\u52a9\u6210\uff08\u5916\u90e8\u8cc7\u91d1\u306b\u3088\u308b\u52a9\u6210\u3092\u53d7\u3051\u305f\u7814\u7a76\u5b9f\u65bd\u306e\u5834\u5408\uff09\uff0fResearch Grant (in case of externally funded research)<\/h3>\n