<p>The manipulation of training variables (e.g., contraction mode) to increase muscle strength is crucial for athletic performance and clinical rehabilitation. Despite a growing body of research examining neural adaptations to resistance training, the contraction-dependent changes in neural activity and muscle strength following resistance training and long-term detraining have not been adequately discussed. This paper presents a narrative review of the existing literature on acute neural responses to various types of muscle contractions and neural adaptations to training and detraining. Available data show that acute neural adaptations are influenced by the specific types of muscle contractions performed, as neuromuscular activity differs between eccentric, concentric, and isometric contractions. Furthermore, resistance training with eccentric contraction leads to higher excitability at the level of the motor cortex, corticospinal tracts, and neuromuscular junction compared to concentric and isometric contraction. In addition, the neuromuscular adaptations and strength gains achieved by eccentric training were maintained over a long period of detraining compared to other types of muscle contraction. Eccentric contraction induces greater acute neural excitability and leads to increased and more long-lasting neural adaptations compared to other types of muscle contraction. Further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of the eccentric training program on neural adaptation.</p>