Inhibition of jaw-closing muscle activity by tactile air-jet stimulation of peri- and intra-oral sites in man.
There were two distinct periods of suppression in electromyograms of masseter and temporalis muscles in 8 subjects after light tactile stimulation (a puff of air) of the peri-oral zone; the latencies were 16 and 60 ms, respectively. These effects were similar to those induced by painful electrical stimulation. A single period of suppression with a latency of 50 ms, was evoked by tactile stimulation of the mucosa of the hard palate or of the tongue. Threshold for suppression was lower in mucosa than skin. Low-threshold and fast-adapting receptors are likely to be involved in this reflex inhibition.
Di Francesco
G
G
Nardone
A
A
Schieppati
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000502:physiology*