What is the concept used to describe the action of muscles that have the ability to contract automatically in anticipation of movement?

The concept being described is feed-forward. This term refers to the process where the body anticipates movement and activates specific muscles in preparation for that movement, even before the action begins. This automatic contraction helps to stabilize the body and improve performance. For example, before a person begins to jump, their muscles will activate in anticipation of the movement, allowing for a more powerful and balanced jump.

In contrast, muscle memory refers to the ability of muscles to perform motor skills with proficiency due to repeated practice, which isn’t directly related to the automatic anticipation of movement. The stretch reflex is a mechanism where a muscle contracts in response to being stretched, but it occurs as a reaction rather than anticipation. Proprioception involves the body’s ability to sense its position and movement in space, contributing to balance and coordination but does not inherently denote the anticipation aspect of muscular contraction.