Normal swallowing and functional magnetic resonance imaging: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Physiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Swallowing neurophysiology research traditionally relied on clinical and animal studies.
• Technological advancements, particularly in brain imaging, have opened new avenues for investigation.
• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is now a leading technique in studying swallowing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize the methods and findings of fMRI studies on the neurophysiology of normal swallowing in healthy adults.
• To identify consistently active brain regions during swallowing in healthy adults.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive systematic review of original research studies was conducted.
• Included studies utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate swallowing neurophysiology.
• Data on participants, study design, tasks, and brain image acquisition were extracted and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Primary motor and sensory areas showed the most consistent activation across studies in healthy adults.
• The anterior cingulate cortex and insular cortex were also frequently identified as active regions.
• The review identified commonalities in brain activation patterns during swallowing.

Conclusions:

• fMRI is a valuable tool for elucidating the neurophysiology of swallowing.
• Specific brain regions, including primary motor/sensory areas, anterior cingulate, and insular cortex, are crucial for normal swallowing.
• Further research is needed to address limitations and explore future directions in swallowing neurophysiology.