Relationship between Masticatory Ability and Cognitive Information Processing Comparative Study of Groups with Different Maximum Occlusal Pressures

• Published in: Nihon Hotetsu Shika Gakkai Zasshi Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 583 - 591
• Main Authors: Aoki, Shinichiro, Ito, Takanori, Nagano, Hiroyuki, Ida, Satoko, Suzuki, Yoshitaka, Osawa, Seiko, Aida, Masahiro, Sasahara, Hiroshige
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Prosthodontic Society 10.08.2004
• Subjects: brain wave; cognition; mastication; maximum occlusal pressure; P 300
• ISSN: 0389-5386; 1883-177X
• DOI: 10.2186/jjps.48.583

Purpose: Our goal was to determine the relationship between the masticatory ability and brain function by objectively evaluating the cognitive information processing from a comparison of groups with different maximum occlusal pressures. Methods: The subjects were divided into groups by using a criterion of maximum occlusal pressure, which is one of the indices for masticatory ability.The oddball paradigm was used with a circle as a rare stimulus and a triangle and square as frequent stimuli.As the subjects performed the task of discriminating each figure, P 300 latency, P 300 amplitude, reaction time (RT), and reaction time standard deviation (RTSD) were recorded.The variables were P 300 latency, P 300 amplitude, RT, RTSD, maximum occlusal pressure, and age.For each group, we performed principal component analysis on these variables to reduce data dimensionality and examined aspects of information processing. Results: 1. There was a significant difference between the high and low occlusal pressure groups when comparing their P 300 latency (Cz) values. 2. From the principal component analysis performed at each stage for both groups, the high occlusal pressure group yielded a cumulative contribution rate of 81.1% and the low occlusal pressure group 82.7% with data reduction into first through fourth principal components for both groups. 3. From the comparison between the high occlusal and low occlusal pressure groups, there was a difference in extraction tendency of the high occlusal pressure group's fourth principal component and the low occlusal pressure group's third and fourth principal components. Conclusions: There were differences in the tendency of event-related potential extraction and principal component extraction based on the principal component analysis of the high and low occlusal pressure groups.These differences indicate the possibility that differences in masticatory ability affect cognitive information processing.