3 Influence of the language dominant hemisphere on the activation region of the cerebral cortex during mastication

Abstract

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the relationship of the activation region of the cerebral cortex during mastication with the language dominant hemisphere. Twelve healthy volunteers were selected for this study. Measurements were performed on a conventional whole body 1.5 T clinical scanner using a single shot, multislice echo-planar imaging sequence. The subjects were ask to masticate on the right side, and then the left side. As well, they were instructed to perform capping tasks. Computer analysis of the fMRI was done using the SPM 99 software. The results showed that the language dominant hemisphere might influence the activation region of the sensorimotor cortex during mastication. This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research (B) (No.14370650) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.