The deformation dynamics and the effect of deformation history on plastic deformation in a wrought magnesium alloy at room temperature have been studied by real-time in situ neutron diffraction measurements under a continuous loading condition. The experimental results reveal that no detwinning occurred during unloading after compression and even in an elastic region during reverse tension. It is found that the serration behavior is closely related to the twinning- and detwinning-dominated deformation.