Evaluation of the effect of anxiety on the masseteric silent period duration

The duration of the masseteric silent period (SPD) and environmental stress are parameters which have been associated with the symptoms of masticatory dysfunction. In this study, the relationship between differing levels of anxiety and the masseteric silent period duration, for nineteen subjects reporting a history of symptoms of mandibular dysfunction, was evaluated by a stress model based on the Sta X-1 anxiety test. The results suggest that the durations of masseteric silent periods were not significantly affected by differing levels of anxiety.