Head movements during chewing: relation to size and texture of bolus

J Dent Res. 2004 Nov;83(11):864-8. doi: 10.1177/154405910408301108.

Abstract

Coordinated mandibular and head-neck movements during jaw opening-closing activities suggest a close functional linkage between the jaw and the neck regions. The present study investigated whether size and texture of bolus can influence head-neck behavior during chewing. Using an optoelectronic 3-D recording technique, we analyzed concomitant mandibular and head-neck movements in 12 healthy adults chewing small (3 g) and large (9 g) boluses of chewing gum and Optosil. The main finding was a head extension during chewing, the amount of which was related mainly to bolus size. Furthermore, each chewing cycle was accompanied not only by mandibular movements, but also by head extension-flexion movements. Larger head movement amplitudes were correlated with larger size and, to some extent, also with harder texture of the bolus. The results suggest that head-neck behavior during chewing is modulated in response to changes in jaw sensory-motor input.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chewing Gum
  • Female
  • Food
  • Head Movements*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mandible / physiology
  • Mastication / physiology*
  • Masticatory Muscles / physiology*
  • Movement
  • Neck Muscles / physiology*
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Silicones
  • Statistics, Nonparametric

Substances

  • Chewing Gum
  • Silicones
  • OV-225