Basic characteristics of tongue pressure and electromyography generated by articulation of a syllable using the posterior part of the tongue.

The basic function of the tongue in pronouncing diadochokinesis and other syllables is not fully understood. This study investigates the influence of sound pressure levels and syllables on tongue pressure and muscle activity in 19 healthy adults (mean age: 28.2 years; range: 22-33 years).

Effect of masseter muscle activity during wakefulness and sleep on tooth wear.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of masseter muscle activity during wakefulness and sleep on tooth wear.

Methods: Sixteen participants with no or mild tooth wear (NMTW group) and sixteen participants with moderate-to-severe tooth wear (MSTW group) were enrolled. The severity of tooth wear was evaluated using the occlusal and incisal indices of the tooth wear index.

Coordination of surface electromyography activity in the posterior tongue region during mastication of differently textured foods.

Background: Masticatory movement occurs complicatedly and bilaterally. Although the tongue plays an important role in mastication, bilateral tongue function during mastication has not been clarified yet.

Objective: To investigate the effect of food properties on posterior tongue activity and coordination of muscles bilaterally by electromyography (EMG).

Effect of food properties and chewing condition on the electromyographic activity of the posterior tongue.

Background: Retraction of the posterior tongue facilitates bolus formation, food transfer and Stage II transport in chewing and swallowing. Surface electromyography of the neck region (N-EMG) enabled the evaluation of muscle function at the posterior tongue. Although previous studies showed that food hardness increased masticatory muscles EMG activity and volitional chewing altered swallowing, the effect of food properties and chewing condition on N-EMG activity has not yet been elucidated.