In vivo muscle conduction study of the tongue using a multi-electrode tongue depressor.

Objective: To test a novel technology for assessment of the volume conduction properties (VCPs) of the tongue. These properties are electrophysiological data that might reflect alterations in patients with tongue involvement.

Methods: Seven healthy individuals were self-measured. The depressor was placed on the surface of the anterior tongue. Directional differences of VCPs were determined with standard descriptive statistics.

Results: Conductivity in longitudinal direction was larger than in transverse direction at 16 (p < 0.05), 32 (p < 0.05), 64 (p < 0.01), and 128 kHz (p < 0.01). No differences were found in relative permittivity. The intraclass correlation was 0.778 and 0.771, respectively.

Conclusions: Our technology provides, for the first time, VCPs of the healthy human tongue.

Significance: Tongue VCPs are standard electrophysiological, quantitative and objective data reflecting ionic content and membrane integrity which could find value for diagnostic purposes and treatment monitoring.