Date of Award

1-1-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Clore, Amy

Area of Concentration

Chemistry, Biology

Abstract

"Muscle memory is generally understood as the mechanism that supports the execution of a motor task during retraining following an initial period of both training and detraining. It can be found in the central nervous system where commands are being sent to accomplish a motor task; however, evidence exists for another type of memory within the myofiber itself. Through the analysis of data from animal and human exercise studies, this thesis examines the notion of muscle memory at different locations proximal to and/or within muscle, including the evidence for and feasibility of myonuclear permanence as a mechanism underlying muscle memory. During training, muscle growth occurs, mainly via hypertrophy of existing fibers through increased synthesis of actin and myosin proteins, and by satellite cell (SC) activation, differentiation and fusion, thereby delivering additional myonuclei to support continued growth. While reported parameters of detraining have included time-dependent reductions in muscle size, strength and anaerobic power, accumulating evidence suggests that myonuclei are retained. In contrast, neural and vascular adaptations appear to change more diversely in response to reduced physical activity, with few effects persisting during detraining. The preservation of myonuclei may provide a basis for the accelerated regrowth observed during retraining, as retained myonuclei sustain the transcriptional capacity of the myofiber when the demand increases once more. Although there are methodological limitations in myofiber and myonuclear analysis, and constraints and lack of consensus in human studies, there is converging evidence to support myonuclear permanence as a contributing factor for rapid regrowth. Together, these findings support the hypothesis of muscle memory at the muscle cell level, consistent with the hypothesis that some impacts of prior mechanical demands are retained that enable a faster recovery of muscle size and strength during retraining."

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