Purpose: Behavior and movement are accomplished by voluntary contractions of skeletal muscles. There are three types of muscle contractions: concentric, isometric and eccentric. The aim of our study was to determine whether there is a difference in the cortical activation pattern between concentric contraction and eccentric contraction of the wrist extensor muscle. Methods: Four healthy right-handed volunteers without any previous history of physical or neurological illness were recruited. fMRI scanning was done during 4 repeated blocks of concentric and eccentric exercise of the wrist joint. Subjects exercised for 12 seconds and then rested for 12 seconds before beginning the second set of exercises. To determine the excitability of cortical neurons during exercise, voxel count and intensity index were analyzed. Results: For right hand movements, when concentric contractions of the right wrist were done, only the left primary motor area was activated. In contrast, during eccentric contraction, both the primary motor area and secondary motor area were activated. For left hand movements, both concentric and eccentric contractions induced only the supplementary motor cortex and the contralateral primary motor cortex. Conclusion: During eccentric contractions, both the primary motor area and secondary motor area are activated in ipsilateral and contralateral brain areas. Thus, eccentric contractions require more complex and difficult movements than concentric contractions do.