Objective: To observe neuronal activities related to right-sided mastication in cortex and to explore the effect of mastication on brain function.
Methods: Neuronal activities related to right-sided mastication were detected with functional magnetic resonance imaging in 10 healthy volunteers. Image data was analyzed by SPM99 software with the use of t test.
Results: Localization of activation in brain was different among subjects. Brain activation during mastication included left basal ganglion, Broca's area, angular gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus.
Conclusions: The functional areas related to right-sided mastication and speech were closely connected, which indicated close relationship between mastication and speech. The central control of mastication might share part of common neural mechanism with that of speech. The roles of activated brain regions in mastication still remained to be elucidated.