Central neuroregulatory imaging on swallowing and therapeutic strategy for swallowing disorder based on brain plasticity

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H04988
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: Hyodo Masamitsu 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系臨床医学部門, 教授 (00181123)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 奥谷 文乃 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系看護学部門, 教授 (10194490) ; 弘瀬 かほり 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系臨床医学部門, 助教 (20527709) ; 小森 正博 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系臨床医学部門, 講師 (30565742) ; 中原 潔 高知工科大学, 情報学群, 教授 (50372363)
• Research Collaborator: NAGAO Asuka 高知大学, 医学部教育研究部医療学系 ; NAKAHIRA Maya 高知大学, 医学部附属病院リハビリテーション部 ; NISHI Kouhei 高知大学, 医学部附属病院リハビリテーション部 ; YANOGAWA Taiki 高知大学, 医学部附属病院リハビリテーション部 ; YANO Minako 高知大学, 医学部附属病院リハビリテーション部
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 機能的MRI / 嚥下機能検査 / 舌骨上筋群 / 神経筋電気刺激療法 / 筋電図 / 嚥下リハビリテーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Brain activity during swallowing of 2 mL water was analyzed by functional MRI (functional MRI; fMRI) in 5 healthy volunteers. As a result, the sensory motor cortex (primary motor cortex, primary sensory cortex), supplementary motor cortex, secondary sensory cortex, premotor cortex, posterior parietal cortex, cingulate gyrus, cerebellum, islet cortex, corpus callosum, basal ganglia, thalamus were activated. Neural networks in these areas were thought to be involved in the promotion or suppression of swallowing function.
In the treatment of swallowing disorder, neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy was performed for the purpose to restore the function of swallow-related muscles, particularly suprahyoid muscles, and the effect was analyzed by electromyographic study. As a result, tongue elevation maneuver is the most effective.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学