Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Assessing Pupil-linked Changes in Locus Coeruleus-mediated Arousal Elicited by Trigeminal Stimulation
Published on: November 26, 2019
The inhibitory effect of a chewing task on a human jaw reflex
Pauline Maillou1, Samuel W Cadden, Frank Lobbezoo
1Oral Neurophysiology Research Team, Dental School, University of Dundee, Park Place, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland. p.maillou@dundee.ac.uk
Abstract:
This study was undertaken to investigate whether an inhibitory jaw reflex could be modulated by experimentally controlled conditions that mimicked symptoms of temporomandibular disorders. Reflecting on previous work, we anticipated that these conditions might suppress the reflex. Electromyographic recordings were made from a masseter muscle in 18 subjects, while electrical stimuli were applied to the upper lip. An inhibitory reflex wave (mean latency 47 ms) was identified and quantified. Immediately following an accelerated chewing task, which in most cases produced muscle fatigue and/or pain, the size of the reflex wave decreased significantly by about 30%. The suppression of inhibitory jaw reflexes by fatigue and pain may result in positive feedback, which may contribute to the symptoms of temporomandibular disorders. Future studies of temporomandibular disorder sufferers will help to determine whether such reflex changes reflect the underlying etiology and/or are a result of the temporomandibular disorder itself.
Related Concept Videos
Feedback Inhibition
Reflex Activity
A reflex exam is a diagnostic procedure performed by a healthcare professional to evaluate the functionality of a patient's...
Deglutition
Swallowing can be divided into three stages: the voluntary phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase. Although the...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Neural Regulation

