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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
The Vermicelli and Capellini Handling Tests: Simple quantitative measures of dexterous forepaw function in rats and mice
Published on: July 21, 2010
Feedback control during mastication of solid food textures--a clinical-experimental study
H J Schindler1, E Stengel, W E Spiess
1Federal Research Center for Nutrition, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Statement Of Problem:
On the basis of animal experiments, it has been hypothesized that the dynamics of food reduction are controlled by peripheral receptors. Studies on this subject in human beings are rare.
Purpose:
This study investigated the influence of periodontal and joint proprioceptors on mastication in human beings.
Material And Methods:
Both jaw joints and the chewing-side teeth were consecutively anesthetized in a 6-person panel by chewing wine gum. The effects on the kinematics, chewing force, and electromyographic activity were measured.
Results:
The results substantiate a positive feedback of periodontal receptors for chewing force control. A substantial influence of joint receptors on movement control could not be found.
Conclusion:
Despite the absence of proprioception in both jaw joints and the periodontal receptors in the chewing side, the characteristics of the measured kinematic and dynamic values remained essentially unchanged.
