Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (32): 5103-5109.doi: 10.12307/2023.597

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Functional brain imaging using near-infrared spectroscopy during the repetitive saliva swallowing test in healthy adults

Peng Xinke1, 2, 3, Jia Feiyang1, 2, 3, Liu Jing1, 2, 3, Liu Hongya1, 2, 3, Zhou Guijuan1, 2, 3, Liu Danni1, 2, 3, Yu Jing1, 2, 3, Zhou Jun1, 2, 3   

  1. 1Department of Rehabilitation, 2Rehabilitation Medicine Center, 3Rehabilitation Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China
  • Received:2022-08-22 Accepted:2022-10-22 Online:2023-11-18 Published:2023-03-22
  • Contact: Zhou Jun, MD, Chief physician, 1Department of Rehabilitation, 2Rehabilitation Medicine Center, 3Rehabilitation Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China
  • About author:Peng Xinke, Master, Physician, 1Department of Rehabilitation, 2Rehabilitation Medicine Center, 3Rehabilitation Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82002400 (to ZGJ); Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, No. 2021JJ30617 (to LHY)

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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Swallowing is a complex movement that requires the synergistic involvement between the cortices, brainstem, specific brain nerves and pharyngeal receptors of the two cerebral hemispheres. The role of the cerebral cortex in the swallowing process and its influence on swallowing remain to be solved.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze cortical activation and lateralization during the repetitive saliva swallowing test in healthy adults using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.
METHODS: Twenty-seven healthy subjects, aged (20.41±1.66) years, were enrolled, including 13 males and 14 females. All the subjects underwent the repetitive saliva swallowing test during functional near-infrared spectroscopy measure. The brain regions activated by the task were analyzed and the lateralization index of the activated brain regions was calculated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: During the repetitive saliva swallowing test, the bilateral primary somatosensory cortex, bilateral primary motor cortex, bilateral pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex, bilateral pars triangularis, bilateral frontopolar area, and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were significantly activated. More than half of the subjects had cortical hemispheric lateralization in the repetitive saliva swallowing test, but there was greater variability in hemispheric lateralization and no significant association with subject’s handedness. The use of healthy adults as subjects in this study to explore the activated areas associated with swallowing allows us to more accurately understand the neural activity during swallowing, which is important for further investigation of swallowing dysfunction.

Key words: swallowing, repetitive saliva swallowing test, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, brain area activation, lateralization

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