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Mapping brain region activity during chewing: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study
M Onozuka1, M Fujita, K Watanabe
1Department of Anatomy and Basic Neuroscience, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan. onozuka@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
Journal of Dental Research
|October 31, 2002
Summary
Chewing gum activates several brain regions, including the sensorimotor cortex and cerebellum. Gum hardness influences brain activity, with moderate hardness showing stronger signals in some areas, suggesting a link to biting force.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
Background:
- Mastication's effect on brain activity is known but not fully detailed.
- Technical challenges have limited precise anatomical and physiological mapping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between chewing and brain regional activity.
- To identify specific brain regions affected by mastication.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used.
- 17 healthy subjects (20-31 years) participated.
- Rhythmic gum-chewing (moderate and hard) and no-chewing conditions were compared.
Main Results:
- Chewing increased bilateral blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals in the sensorimotor cortex, supplementary motor area, insula, thalamus, and cerebellum.
- Moderately hard gum elicited stronger BOLD signals than hard gum in the sensorimotor cortex, supplementary motor area, and insula.
- The cerebellum showed higher signals with harder gum, while the thalamus showed no significant change.
Conclusions:
- Mastication demonstrably increases neuronal activity in specific human brain regions.
- Brain responses to chewing are modulated by gum hardness, indicating a connection to biting force.