Adaptive brain activity changes during tongue movement with palatal coverage from fMRI data.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Oral Health
• Sensory Adaptation

Background:

• Successful adaptation to dentures with palatal coverage may involve neural changes.
• Tongue motor control is crucial for adapting to new oral environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in brain activity during tongue movement in response to a new oral environment.
• To understand the neural basis of adaptation to palatal coverage.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity during tongue movement.
• Tongue motor dexterity and perceived difficulty were assessed over seven days.
• Twenty-eight subjects without prior denture experience participated.

Main Results:

• Difficulty with tongue movement was highest immediately after insertion (Day 1) and decreased over time.
• Brain activity in the angular gyrus and right precuneus was significantly higher on Day 1 compared to Day 7.
• Increased activation correlated with impaired tongue motor function and spatial monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Initial tongue motor impairment from palatal plates activates brain regions involved in spatial monitoring and motor imagery.
• Reduced activation over time indicates successful adaptation and recovery of tongue motor function.
• Cortical plasticity in sensorimotor areas underlies adaptation to oral appliances.