Brain activity associated with memory and cognitive function during jaw-tapping movement in healthy subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
- Author:
Seung-Yeon CHO
1
;
Ae-Sook SHIN
;
Byung-Jo NA
;
Geon-Ho JAHNG
;
Seong-Uk PARK
;
Woo-Sang JUNG
;
Sang-Kwan MOON
;
Jung-Mi PARK
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Brain; physiology; Brain Mapping; Cognition; physiology; Female; Health; Humans; Jaw; physiology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Memory; physiology; Middle Aged; Movement; physiology; Task Performance and Analysis
- From: Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2013;19(6):409-417
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo determine whether jaw-tapping movement, a classically described as an indication of personal well-being and mental health, stimulates the memory and the cognitive regions of the brain and is associated with improved brain performance.
METHODSTwelve healthy right-handed female subjects completed the study. Each patient performed a jaw-tapping task and an n-back task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The subjects were trained to carry out the jaw-tapping movement at home twice a day for 4 weeks. The fMRI was repeated when they returned.
RESULTSDuring the first and second jaw-tapping session, both sides of precentral gyrus and the right middle frontal gyrus (BA 6) were activated. And during the second session of the jaw-tapping task, parts of frontal lobe and temporal lobe related to memory function were more activated. In addition, the total percent task accuracy in n-back task significantly increased after 4 weeks of jawtapping movement. After jaw-tapping training for 4 weeks, brain areas related to memory showed significantly increased blood oxygen level dependent signals.
CONCLUSIONJaw-tapping movement might be a useful exercise for stimulating the memory and cognitive regions of the brain.