Brain Activity Associated with Memory and Cognitive Function During Jaw-Tapping Movement in Healthy Subjects Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• Published in: Chinese journal of integrative medicine Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 409 - 417
• Main Authors: Cho, Seung-Yeon, Shin, Ae-Sook, Na, Byung-Jo, Jahng, Geon-Ho, Park, Seong-Uk, Jung, Woo-Sang, Moon, Sang-Kwan, Park, Jung-Mi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Chinese Association of Traditional and Western Medicine 01.06.2013
• Subjects: Brain - physiology; Brain Mapping; Cognition - physiology; Female; fMRI; Health; Humans; Jaw - physiology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Memory - physiology; Middle Aged; Movement - physiology; Original Article; Task Performance and Analysis; 功能磁共振成像; 心理健康; 脑区; 脑活动; 认知功能; 记忆功能; 运动; cognitive function; dementia; memory; jaw-tapping movement; functional magnetic resonance imaging
• ISSN: 1672-0415; 1993-0402
• DOI: 10.1007/s11655-012-1187-7

Objective： TO 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. Methods： Twelve 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. Results： During 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-beck task significantly increased after 4 weeks of jaw- tapping movement. After jaw-tapping training for 4 weeks, brain areas related to memory showed significantly increased blood oxygen level dependent signals. Conclusion： Jaw-tapping movement might be a useful exercise for stimulating the memory and cognitive regions of the brain.