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Updated: Oct 9, 2026

An In Vitro Preparation for Eliciting and Recording Feeding Motor Programs with Physiological Movements in Aplysia californica
11:49

An In Vitro Preparation for Eliciting and Recording Feeding Motor Programs with Physiological Movements in Aplysia californica

Published on: December 5, 2012

Ontogeny of feeding motor patterns in infant rats: an electromyographic analysis of suckling and chewing

M W Westneat1, W G Hall

  • 1Department of Zoology, Duke University.

Behavioral Neuroscience
|June 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Suckling and chewing share some muscle activity patterns, suggesting a neuromuscular link. However, distinct electromyogram (EMG) features indicate that suckling is not a direct precursor to chewing in rats.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Oral Motor Function

Background:

  • Mammalian development involves a transition from suckling to chewing.
  • The relationship between suckling and chewing neuromuscularly is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if suckling is a neuromuscular precursor to chewing or if they are independent systems.
  • To analyze the electromyogram (EMG) patterns of key muscles during suckling and chewing in developing rats.

Main Methods:

  • Electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded from rat pups at various developmental ages (6-21 days).
  • EMGs were collected from superficial masseter, anterior digastric, sternohyoideus, and genioglossus muscles.
  • Muscle activity was analyzed during both suckling and chewing behaviors.

Main Results:

  • Suckling behavior comprises distinct components (nipple attachment, rhythmic sucking, stretch response) with unique EMG patterns.
  • Chewing-related EMGs were observed by 12 days of age, maturing to adult patterns by 18-21 days.
  • Nipple attachment showed some similarities to adult chewing motor patterns, but other suckling aspects differed.

Conclusions:

  • Suckling and chewing exhibit both shared and distinct electromyographic features during development.
  • While some neuromuscular continuity exists, suckling is not a direct precursor to chewing.
  • These findings clarify the developmental relationship between suckling and chewing in mammals.

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