Feedback control during mastication of solid food textures--a clinical-experimental study.
BACKGROUND
On the basis of animal experiments, it has been hypothesized that the dynamics of food reduction are controlled by peripheral receptors. Studies on this subject in human beings are rare.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the influence of periodontal and joint proprioceptors on mastication in human beings.


METHODS
Both jaw joints and the chewing-side teeth were consecutively anesthetized in a 6-person panel by chewing wine gum. The effects on the kinematics, chewing force, and electromyographic activity were measured.


RESULTS
The results substantiate a positive feedback of periodontal receptors for chewing force control. A substantial influence of joint receptors on movement control could not be found.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the absence of proprioception in both jaw joints and the periodontal receptors in the chewing side, the characteristics of the measured kinematic and dynamic values remained essentially unchanged.
Federal Research Center for Nutrition, Karlsruhe, Germany.
H J
HJ
Schindler
E
E
Stengel
W E
WE
Spiess
D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D011434:Proprioception; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000502:physiology; D014059:Tongue / Q000502:physiology