Voluntary Swallowing Initiation Difficulty After Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex Damage: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Clinical Case Study

Background:

• The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) is crucial for initiating voluntary movements.
• Damage to the dmPFC can lead to impairments in motor functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of swallowing apraxia following dmPFC glioblastoma resection.
• To investigate the role of the dmPFC in the voluntary initiation of liquid swallowing.

Main Methods:

• Case report of an individual with a glioblastoma in the right dmPFC.
• Clinical assessment of swallowing function for liquids and solids.
• Neurological examination to rule out other related deficits.

Main Results:

• The individual experienced difficulty initiating voluntary liquid swallowing post-surgery.
• Swallowing of solids was unimpaired, potentially due to additional sensory-motor triggers.
• Absence of buccofacial apraxia or apraxia of speech was noted.

Conclusions:

• The right dmPFC is critical for the voluntary initiation of liquid swallowing.
• Liquid swallowing's reliance on rapid force application differentiates it from solid swallowing in this context.
• This case highlights the rarity of swallowing apraxia linked to dmPFC lesions.