Abstract
The cortical theta, alpha, beta, and gamma ERD/ERS were investigated before command swallowing (CS) and voluntary swallowing (VS), in six healthy left handed male volunteers, using magnetoencephalography. CS was signaled by a light signal, while VS was self initiated. Five volunteers showed the alpha ERD and beta ERD areas in CS and VS to be similar in the parietal lobe from 0.5 to before the start of swallowing. The function of the parietal lobe may thus be necessary for the control of swallowing as well as the beta ERD areas in the motor and premotor area. Four volunteers showed a difference in the area of theta ERD between CS and VS in the right medial and inferior prefrontal gyrus and temporal pole from 1.5 to 1.0 s before swallowing. These observations may suggest a difference between CS and VS in cognitive processing before swallowing.
