Abstract
Objective To compare the effects of training of jaw and finger movements with and without visual feedback on precision and accuracy. Method Twenty healthy participants (10 men and 10 women; mean age 24.6 ± 0.8 years) performed two tasks: a jaw open-close movement and a finger lifting task with and without visual feedback before and after 3-day training. Individually determined target positions for the jaw corresponded to 50% of the maximal jaw opening position, and a fixed target position of 20 mm was set for the finger. Movements were repeated 10 times each. The variability in the amplitude of the movements was expressed as percentage in relation to the target position (Daccu—accuracy) and as coefficient of variation (CVprec—precision). Result D accu and CVprec were significantly influenced by visual feedback (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) and reduced after training jaw and finger movements (P < 0.001). Daccu (P = 0.004) and CVprec (P = 0.019) were significantly different between jaw and finger movements. The relative changes in Daccu (P = 0.017) and CVprec (P = 0.027) were different from pretraining to posttraining between jaw and finger movements. Conclusion The accuracy and precision of standardized jaw and finger movements are dependent on visual feedback and appears to improve more by training in the trigeminal system possibly reflecting significant neuroplasticity in motor control mechanisms.
Highlights
Neuroplasticity is one of the most prominent features of the central nervous system, which plays a role in function to store information in memory associated with learning [1]
It is suggested that the somatosensory cortex and the motor cortex are important in the mastication process, e.g., chewing and swallowing
Daccu of jaw and finger are significantly different at baseline
Summary
Neuroplasticity is one of the most prominent features of the central nervous system, which plays a role in function to store information in memory associated with learning [1]. Open-close jaw movements must achieve a predetermined requirement with high precision in mastication, a complex biomechanical process, involving positioning food between the teeth, holding, breaking it down into pieces to prepare it for swallowing [10]. It is suggested that the somatosensory cortex and the motor cortex are important in the mastication process, e.g., chewing and swallowing. The primary motor cortex is involved in the initiation, control, and execution of the jaw motor functions and plays an important role in the acquisition of new motor skills [13]
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