Development of a training system for improving the mobility and tactile sensation of tongue

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12901
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90150:Medical assistive technology-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: KAJIKAWA Shinya 東北学院大学, 工学部, 教授 (80290691)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 舌運動トレーニング / 粘弾性負荷

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The tongue plays an important role in feeding, swallowing, and articulation. To maintain these function, improving the tongue's moving range, output force, and posture control is necessary. We developed several tongue movement training systems. For training in oral cavity, the task pushing air cushion placed on the palate was done. By repeating training, tongue could position the cushion stable and precisely. On the other hands, extraoral training was executed using a tongue-operated joystick device with viscoelastic resistance. In training, task of tracing a line drawing or hitting blocks displayed on PC monitor were presented. These tasks were repeated for a one month. We could confirm that these systems improve the tongue function (moving range, output force, oral diadochokinesis) through several experiments.

Free Research Field

人間工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

舌の運動機能の維持、向上は高齢者の健康を保つ上で重要であり、広く運動トレーニングが行われている。しかしながら、舌の能力やトレーニング効果を定量的に把握するシステムがない状況であった。そこで、本研究では、舌で操作するクッションスイッチ、およびスティック型操作器を開発し、その動きの計測から舌の運動機能の定量化を図った。これにより舌の運動機能の詳細な解析が可能となる。また、操作器に対する負荷（弾性および粘弾性）を与える機能も有することから、個々人の能力に応じたトレーニングの実施も可能となる。