title: Neuroplasticity and swallowing.
abstract: Recent research has suggested that the central nervous system controlling swallowing can undergo experience-dependent plasticity. Moreover, swallowing neuroplastic change may be associated with behavioural modulation. This article presents research evidence suggesting that nonbehavioural and behavioural interventions, as well as injury, can induce swallowing neuroplasticity. These studies indicate that while swallowing and limb neuroplasticity share certain features, certain principles of swallowing neuroplasticity may be distinct. Thus, an understanding of swallowing neuroplasticity is necessary in terms of explaining and predicting the (1) behavioural effects of injury to the swallowing nervous system and (2) effects of swallowing interventions applied in rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Orofacial Neuroscience Laboratory, The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Elborn College, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. remartin@uwo.ca
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex; D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation