title: Cortical processing of esophageal sensation is related to the representation of swallowing.
abstract: The esophagus plays a major role in the act of swallowing. The aim of the present investigation was to apply whole-head magnetoencephalography in order to study the cortical processing of esophageal sensation in healthy humans in whom the cortical representation of swallowing had been established previously. The proximal esophagus was stimulated in nine participants by intermittent 5 ml water infusion. Submental EMG recording was used to identify trials, which were contaminated by subsequent swallowing. Esophageal stimulation led to changes in rhythmic activity of the brain that were localized in the left lateral primary sensorimotor cortex. The pattern of cortical activation showed the same hemispheric lateralization as that of volitional swallowing, however, being localized more lateral. The close anatomical vicinity of these two functions points to an important physiological link between the cortical processing of esophageal sensation and the cortical control of swallowing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Münster University Hospital, University of Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dziewas
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sörös
authors.forename: Ryouhei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Wilkin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Henningsen
authors.forename: E Bernd
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Ringelstein
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knecht
authors.forename: Christo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pantev
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D004947:Esophagus / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D015225:Magnetoencephalography / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*