Robust cortical encoding of 3D tongue shape during feeding in macaques.

Dexterous tongue deformation underlies eating, drinking, and speaking. The orofacial sensorimotor cortex has been implicated in the control of coordinated tongue kinematics, but little is known about how the brain encodes-and ultimately drives-the tongue's 3D, soft-body deformation. Here we combine a biplanar x-ray video technology, multi-electrode cortical recordings, and machine-learning-based decoding to explore the cortical representation of lingual deformation.

Loss of oral sensation impairs feeding performance and consistency of tongue-jaw coordination.

Background: Individuals with impaired oral sensation report difficulty chewing, but little is known about the underlying changes to tongue and jaw kinematics. Methodological challenges impede the measurement of 3D tongue movement and its relationship to the gape cycle.

Objective: The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of loss of oral somatosensation on feeding performance, 3D tongue kinematics and tongue-jaw coordination.