title: Importance of mind-muscle connection during progressive resistance training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates whether focusing on using specific muscles during bench press can selectively activate these muscles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Altogether 18 resistance-trained men participated. Subjects were familiarized with the procedure and performed one-maximum repetition (1RM) test during the first session. In the second session, 3 different bench press conditions were performed with intensities of 20, 40, 50, 60 and 80 % of the pre-determined 1RM: regular bench press, and bench press focusing on selectively using the pectoralis major and triceps brachii, respectively. Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded for the triceps brachii and pectoralis major muscles. Subsequently, peak EMG of the filtered signals were normalized to maximum maximorum EMG of each muscle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both muscles, focusing on using the respective muscles increased muscle activity at relative loads between 20 and 60 %, but not at 80 % of 1RM. Overall, a threshold between 60 and 80 % rather than a linear decrease in selective activation with increasing intensity appeared to exist. The increased activity did not occur at the expense of decreased activity of the other muscle, e.g. when focusing on activating the triceps muscle the activity of the pectoralis muscle did not decrease. On the contrary, focusing on using the triceps muscle also increased pectoralis EMG at 50 and 60 % of 1RM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resistance-trained individuals can increase triceps brachii or pectarilis major muscle activity during the bench press when focusing on using the specific muscle at intensities up to 60 % of 1RM. A threshold between 60 and 80 % appeared to exist.
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Research unit in Sport and Health, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calatayud
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vinstrup
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Markus Due
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sundstrup
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Physical Activity and Human Performance Group, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mikkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.|Research unit in Sport and Health, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jay
authors.affiliation: Research unit in Sport and Health, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Colado
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copenhagen, Denmark. lla@nrcwe.dk.|Physical Activity and Human Performance Group, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark. lla@nrcwe.dk.
authors.forename: Lars Louis
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D055070:Resistance Training
keywords: Bodybuilding; Internal focus; Muscle activation; Strength training