Effect of Gum Chewing Frequency on Oxygenation of the Prefrontal Cortex

• Published in: Perceptual and motor skills Vol. 124; no. 1; pp. 58 - 71
• Main Authors: Yokoyama, Tomomi, Sato, Megumi, Natsui, Saya, Kuboyama, Naomi, Suzuki, Kasumi, Inaba, Hiromi, Shibuya, Kenichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.02.2017; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: NIRS; mastication; frequency
• ISSN: 0031-5125; 1558-688X
• DOI: 10.1177/0031512516683074

Since increased cerebral oxygenation reflects cerebral activation, this study investigated the effect of mastication frequency on prefrontal cortex oxygenation. Eleven young volunteers (nine women, two men; M age = 20.9 years, SD = 0.9) carried out three trials in which they were asked to chew a tasteless gum for 3 min at varying (rates of mastication frequency: 30, 70, and 110). Breaks of 2 min each were interleaved between trials. The oxygenation of the left prefrontal cortex was monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy. We found a significant increase in cortical oxygenation during gum chewing in all three conditions (p < .05), compared with a resting level; we also found a significant difference between the Fast and Slow chewing conditions, and between the Fast and Normal (70 rpm) conditions, both findings seemingly related to activation of a motor command in frontal brain regions. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the effect of mastication frequency on cerebral oxygenation. Possible implications of this finding are discussed.