Neuro-behavioral pattern of sleep bruxism in wakefulness

Marila Rezende Azevedo,Ronaldo Sena,Edgard Afonso Lamounier Júnior,Alcimar Barbosa Soares,Andrei Nakagawa Silva,Amanda Medeiros De Freitas

doi:10.1590/2446-4740.06617

Marila Rezende Azevedo, Ronaldo Sena + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2446-4740.06617

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Abstract

AbstractIntroduction: Sleep Bruxism (SB) is a non-functional rhythmic movement of the mandible with multifactorial aetiology and complex diagnose. It has been the subject of various studies over the past decades and it is considered a result of actions of the Central Nervous System modulated by Autonomous Nervous System. In this work, we test the hypothesis that SB subjects present a typical and defined neurobehavioral pattern that can be distinct from that of non-bruxers subjects and can be measured during wakefulness. Methods Fifteen sleep bruxers (experimental-group EG) and fifteen non-bruxers (control-group CG) took part in the experiments. To verify the presence and severity of SB, clinical examinations, anamneses and questionnaires, including Visual Analogic Scale - faces (VAS-f) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were applied. To legitimate the diagnoses of SB, a disposable instrument (Bitestrip®) to assess the masseter activity during sleep was employed. All subjects were submitted to a set of experiments for measuring various visual evoked responses during the presentation of visual stimuli (pleasant, unpleasant and neutral images). Events in Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) were used to compare the neural responses of both CG and EG. Results VAS-f showed EG with higher perception of stress than CG (trait: p=0.05), and lower quality of life for (state: p=0.007). STAI I and II showed significant differences of anxiety between CG and EG (p=0.013 and p=0.004, respectively), being EG the highest. The EG Bitestrip scores confirmed that 100% of subjects were sleep bruxers. Significant differences were found between EG and CG for events associated with emotional (pleasant and unpleasant) images in the first 250 ms after stimulation. In general, EG subjects showed higher amplitude and shorter latency of VEP events. Conclusion It is possible to distinguish between SB and non-bruxers subjects during wakefulness, based on differences in amplitude and latency of cortical event related potentials elicited by visual stimulation. SB subjects show greater amplitudes in specific events in frontal areas when non-pleasant images are shown. Latencies tend to be anticipated in SB compared to CG subjects.

Highlights

Sleep Bruxism (SB) is a non-functional rhythmic movement of the mandible with multifactorial aetiology and complex diagnose
Considering the various elements of the anamneses and the questionnaires that were applied to both groups, the statistical analysis showed that only State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and VAS were significant when testing possible
These findings are consistent with the literature (Mainieri et al, 2012) and provide further support for the clinical evaluations performed to discriminate between sleep bruxers and non-bruxers

Summary

Introduction

Sleep Bruxism (SB) is a non-functional rhythmic movement of the mandible with multifactorial aetiology and complex diagnose. It has been the subject of various studies over the past decades and it is considered a result of actions of the Central Nervous System modulated by Autonomous Nervous System. Conclusion: It is possible to distinguish between SB and non-bruxers subjects during wakefulness, based on differences in amplitude and latency of cortical event related potentials elicited by visual stimulation. Sleep Bruxism (SB) is a complex phenomenon considered to be primarily a sleep-related movement disorder with a multifactorial aetiology, involving intricate multisystem physiological processes.

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