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Updated: May 26, 2026
06:59
In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue
Published on: July 6, 2017
The tongue and its control by sleep state-dependent modulators
1Department of Medicine and Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. richard.horner@utoronto.ca
Archives Italiennes De Biologie
|December 30, 2011
Summary
This study investigates how brain states and drugs alter tongue muscle control, crucial for breathing during sleep. Understanding these changes helps address sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
Background:
- Vital functions like breathing are controlled by neural networks in the brain.
- The brain's chemical environment changes with states like wakefulness, non-REM sleep, REM sleep, and drug administration (anesthetics, sedatives, ethanol).
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine state-dependent modulation of hypoglossal motor output, which controls tongue muscles.
- To elucidate mechanisms of upper airway dysfunction during sleep.
Main Methods:
- Focus on motor output to tongue muscles.
- Investigate modulators acting at the hypoglossal motor pool.
Main Results:
- Hypoglossal motor output is modulated by brain state and drugs.
- Mechanisms of this modulation are key to understanding breathing control.
Conclusions:
- Understanding hypoglossal motor control during sleep is vital for addressing breathing issues.
- This research is relevant to obstructive sleep apnea and public health.
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