title: On the interpretation of mouth asymmetry.
abstract: Greater right-side mouth opening during propositional speech has now been observed in at least eight studies. All current data are consistent with the interpretation that left-hemisphere control of articulation of propositional speech results in greater activity of the right-side lip opening muscles. In addition, expression of automatic speech such as singing, emotion, and possibly prosody can also influence mouth asymmetry, but in the opposite direction, suggesting a relatively greater right-hemisphere role for these types of expression. Further work is needed to confirm these interpretations and to elaborate on the exact neuro-muscular mechanisms and task dependencies responsible for mouth asymmetry.
mesh_terms: D005149:Facial Expression; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000502:physiology; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology*; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*