Automatic evaluation of the exteroceptive suppression of the temporalis muscle activity.
OBJECTIVE
To set up a reliable automated method of allowing to identify the ES1 and ES2 periods of exteroceptive suppression of the temporal muscle (EST), thereby reducing their intra- and inter-individual variability.


METHODS
Analyses were performed in 79 healthy subjects with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each individual underwent two separate examinations 1 week apart. Activity of the left and right temporal muscles was recorded in response to unilateral stimulation of the left and right labial commissures. Wave forms were successively rectified, averaged, and filtered; the intersections of the resulting curve with values corresponding to 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, and 80% of the control period (20 ms preanalysis time) were automatically determined.


RESULTS
All subjects reached a 80% level of attenuation for ES2. The values of ES2 durations were normally distributed. The mean ES1 and ES2 durations didn't vary between the two recording session, and there was a good individual reproducibility from one session to the other. Though relatively high, the inter-individual variability was slightly lower in the second than in the first session.


CONCLUSIONS
Computed analysis of EST may contribute to decrease inter- and intra-individual test variability. Letting patient habituate through a first recording session could increase test sensitivity, too. The obtained values for ES2 duration are normally distributed and well-reproducible at both the population and individual level. We suggest taking into account both ES2 duration and level of attenuation.
Marashi
R
R
Service de stomatologie et de chirurgie maxillofaciale, cliniques universitaires St Luc, université catholique de Louvain, 10, avenue Hippocrate, Bte 5732, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium. Ramin.Marashi@chello.be
Reychler
H
H
Guérit
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D001331:Automation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000502:physiology*