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Electromyographic activity in the masseter muscle resulting from stimulation of hypothalamic behavioral sites in the cat.

This study examined the relationship between hypothalamically elicited emotional behaviors and electromyographic activity in the masseter muscle of the cat. Electromyographic amplitudes resulting from stimulation at hypothalamic sites at which affective defense and quiet biting attack behaviors were elicited were compared with those recorded during stick biting that simulated mastication. The electromyographic activity elicited by hypothalamic stimulation was greater than that found from stick biting for all behavioral sites. At control sites, from which no behavior could be elicited, the electromyographic activity associated with stick biting exceeded that observed from the hypothalamic sites. These findings suggest a relationship between hypothalamically elicited behaviors and increased levels of jaw muscle activity.

Animals↗

Nocturnal electromyographic evaluation of masseter muscle activity in the complete denture patient.

Nocturnal oral activity was evaluated in 12 complete denture wearers by means of EMG measurements of the masseter muscle. Patients who had worn dentures for at least 6 months were selected. EMG levels were compared when subjects slept with and without the dentures in the mouth. Three subjects appeared to have reduced EMG values when sleeping with the dentures. However, no overall group trends or significant differences were obtained. High variability in nightly EMG values could not be explained by a post hoc analysis of patient oral symptoms or denture characteristics. Efforts should be directed at improved methodology to study the specific mechanism of the effect of denture wearing on nocturnal muscle activity levels. Additional knowledge is needed on the occurrence and effects of parafunctional habits in the edentulous patients.

Adult↗

Motor pause frequency in the masseter muscle in relation to food texture.

EMG activity was recorded from the masseter muscles of 10 naturally dentate subjects during the chewing of hazelnuts, peanuts, Optosil and chewing gum. The frequency of motor pauses (10-50 ms long) in the EMG patterns was found to be related to the textural properties of the test food. It was also found that the frequency varied for different parts of the chewing sequence, being significantly higher initially than in the last part of the chewing sequence. Motor pauses of this length, however, were absent from many of the EMG patterns. It is concluded that these motor pauses are signs of certain events during chewing but are probably not part of any basic reflex necessary for the neurophysiological regulation of chewing.

Adult↗

Reflex responses of the masseter muscle in patients with chronic arthritis or internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint. A comparison with symptomfree subjects.

Averaged reflex responses in the masseter muscle to transverse taps delivered to the upper central incisor were studied in 13 patients with chronic arthritic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease (arthritis group) and 28 patients having internal TMJ derangement (derangement group). The diagnostic assessment of TMJ disease was based on a combination of imaging methods. Fourteen symptomfree subjects served as a control for the electromyographic observations. The tapping force was increased in steps from 0.25 to 6 N. The pattern of the reflex response consisted of various inhibitory and excitatory waves, which were found to change with increasing tapping force. The first inhibitory wave (I-1) increased in duration with increasing tapping force in all subjects. At certain tapping forces, I-1 was of significantly lower amplitude and longer duration in the arthritis group than in the control group, but latency and threshold did not differ. The excitatory wave seemed to have longer latency and higher amplitude in the arthritis group than in the control subjects at some tapping forces. In summary we conclude that the pattern of the reflex response seemed to be similar in patients with different TMJ disorders and in symptomfree subjects. Only the level of inhibition, duration of I-1 and higher excitatory response, might separate the patients with arthritic TMJ disease and internal TMJ derangement from symptomfree subjects, but no specific differences between the groups could be found.

Adult↗

Replicability of electromyographic recordings of the masseter muscle during mastication.

This study evaluates the reliability of a method to duplicate the location of surface electrodes for recording the electromyographic activity of masseter muscles during mastication and quantifying the activity by a microcomputer system. A plastic framework consisting of a bite fork and electrode positioners was used to place the electrodes by relating the positioners to an occlusal index and keeping this relationship constant at subsequent sittings. EMG recordings were repeated on two different days for each of 10 subjects while they performed standardized masticatory performance tests with peanuts and carrots. The muscle activity recorded with hardware integrators was an average of 26.7% of the computerized software integrations but measures derived from the two methods of integration were highly correlated (r = 0.965) and yielded similar results. Significant correlations were found between test sessions for each measure of masticatory performance and integrated EMG activity for ipsilateral and contralateral muscles. For each subject, no significant differences were found between sessions for any masticatory performance or EMG variable. The results indicate that reliable inter session EMG recordings during mastication can be made by using the template for positioning of the electrodes. In addition, the microcomputer data acquisition system provides results comparable to those obtained with conventional hardware integrators, with the added benefit of providing information on each individual stroke and its various components.

Adolescent↗

Effect of cold pressor stimulation (4 degrees C) on human masseter muscle haemodynamics during and after sustained isometric contraction.

The effect of cold pressor (CP) stimulation and sustained isometric contraction on the blood volume of the right masseter muscle was examined in seven healthy males, who performed 1 min of isometric jaw clenching at 50% of their maximum voluntary contraction without, with and again without a 4 degrees C CP stimulation. Total haemoglobin was measured in the masseter before, during and after the contraction task using near-infrared spectroscopy. CP stimulation during the isometric contraction diminished the magnitude of the contraction-induced decrease of blood volume when compared to the trials without CP stimulation. However, in the immediate post-contraction period (while the CP stimulation was still in place), no increase in blood volume above the usual post-contraction hyperaemia was evident. Once the CP stimulation had been removed, there was a clear decrease (faster return to baseline) in the vasodilation occurring in the post-contraction period. This diminished period of vasodilation occurred in spite of the fact that the vascular resistance (blood pressure) and heart rate were still substantially elevated by the CP effect during this same period. These data suggest that the strong CP stimulation produced a biphasic response. First, there was an early-onset strong vasodilation (during CP), which was followed by a period of diminished vasodilation, suggesting that an active, but delayed, vasoconstrictive drive may be induced by the CP stimulus.

Adult↗

EMG power spectrum patterns of anterior temporal and masseter muscles in children and adults.

The power spectrum of electromyograms (EMG) has been demonstrated to vary with muscles having different muscle fiber type compositions. This study investigated the variations in EMG power spectrum patterns of the masticatory muscles with age and gender by comparison of the mean power frequency (MPF) of the anterior temporal and masseter muscles in children and adults. Surface EMG signals were sampled bilaterally from the muscles when the subjects were performing maximum voluntary isometric clenches at maximal intercuspal position. The results indicated that MPF values were age-dependent (p less than 0.001), and sexual dimorphism was evident (p less than 0.001), with lower MPF values in male and adult muscles. While male adults had the lowest and female children had the highest MPF values, female adults had MPF values closer to values obtained from male children. These differences or similarities could be attributed to the degree of differentiation of the muscles during growth and development of the craniofacial morphology.

Adult↗

Comments on standardization of reflex measurements in human masseter muscle, including silent periods.

The following comments are given on the guidelines suggested by Türker (1988) for studies on oral reflexes using the surface EMG of the masseter muscles in man, including the silent period. (i) Attention should not be confined to electrical stimulation since mechanoreceptors in the periodontium, especially in the periodontal ligament, can only be activated by mechanical stimulation of a tooth. Furthermore, different modes of stimulation and stimulation sites do not yield equivalent reflex complexes. Weak and transient mechanical stimulation of a tooth while clenching at a low level of 5 or 10% MVC is a selective model (89%) to study the influence of periodontal receptors. (ii) Statistical criteria should be applied on rectified and averaged EMG records to prevent any subjective bias in the measurements of reflex variables. Whether a period of increased EMG activity is due to clustering of action potentials of motor units firing of which was delayed by a preceding inhibition, or to a real excitatory influence, can be assessed by applying statistical criteria on averaged and subsequently rectified records. (iii) The clenching level should be less than 25% of MVC to avoid muscle fatigue, and to elicit pronounced reflexes with a weak and therefore more selective stimulus. (iv) The stimulus intensity should be much less than six times the threshold if selectivity for mechanoreceptors is desired. Furthermore, periods of increased activity in surface EMG resulting from a weak stimulus are probably due to real excitatory influences and not to clustering of motor unit action potentials after an inhibition. (v) Jaw separation and the use of a force transducer are not always advantageous. If mechanical stimulation is applied to a tooth, clenching in full habitual occlusion causes a complete suppression of the influence of muscle spindles. A shift in activity between the various elevator muscles, and hence a change in activity of the muscle studied, may occur during an experimental session if biting force is used as a feedback. Such a shift is not relevant if feedback is carried out on rectified and low-pass filtered (1.6 Hz) EMG of the muscle studied.

Bias↗

Effect of intravenous infusion of a beta-adrenergic blocking agent on the haemodynamic changes in human masseter muscle induced by cold-pressor stimulation.

Eight healthy non-smoking males (mean age: 24.1 +/- 1.1 years) without any history of chronic muscle pain and migraine participated in this study. Haemoglobin (Hb) and oxygen (O2) saturation in the right masseter muscle were continuously recorded with a non-invasive near-infrared spectroscopic device. Heart rate and blood pressure were also recorded. The experiment had three phases: a placebo drug (physiological saline) with cold-pressor trial, a 30-sec maximal voluntary clenching (MVC) trial, and a propranolol with cold-pressor trial. The saline and drug trials each involved continuous recording for 1 min before, 2 min during and 5 min after the cold-pressor stimulation (4 degrees C). Physiological saline (20 ml) or propranolol hydrochloride (20 ml) were infused at the rate of 2 ml/min. This infusion was begun 20 min before the baseline recording and participants did not know which solution (saline or propranolol) was being infused. For the MVC trial, each participant was asked to perform a 30-sec clench of their jaw-closing muscles. There was a rest period of 15 min between each trial. The individual Hb and O2 data were normalized so that the baseline at the beginning of the experiment was equal to zero, and the Hb and O2 data were normalized as a percentage of the individual's own highest absolute Hb and O2 after and during the MVC, respectively. The results showed that the mean baseline Hb 1 min before cold-pressor stimulation was significantly lower in the beta-blocker trial than in the placebo trial (p = 0.035). The mean change in Hb from baseline during cold-pressor stimulation in the beta-blocker trial was also significantly less than in the placebo trial (p = 0.035). The mean Hb rebound change after the cold-pressor stimulation in the beta-blocker trial was significantly higher than in the placebo trial, and no significant heart-rate differences were observed in the period after cold-pressor stimulation. Overall, the mean heart rate before and during that stimulation was significantly lower in the beta-blocker trial than the placebo trial (p < 0.001). There was no significant mean blood-pressure difference between placebo and beta-blocker trials at any time. These results suggest that beta-adrenoceptor blocking decreases the blood volume in the resting masseter, suppresses the incremental blood-volume change during cold-pressor stimulation, and discloses a hidden vasoconstrictive effect after that stimulation.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Activation of masseter muscles with inspiratory resistance loading.

Closure of the jaw exerts traction on muscles that insert on the hyoid bone and that may stabilize or expand the pharyngeal airway. We postulated that the masseter muscles, which close the jaw, would be activated when the patency of the pharyngeal airway is threatened. We therefore measured electromyographic activation of the masseters during inspiratory resistance loading and compared it with activation of chin muscles and alae nasi in 10 normal subjects. We observed no masseter activation during quiet unloaded breathing, but as pharyngeal pressure became lower there was a significant increase in masseter activation in all subjects. The change in masseter activation relative to pharyngeal pressure was similar to that of chin muscles and alae nasi. Activation of the masseter preceded the fall in pharyngeal pressure as also occurred in the chin muscles and alae nasi. We conclude that the masseters are activated by inspiratory resistance loading and have respiratory activity similar to pharyngeal airway muscles.

Adult↗

Correlation between surface electromyograms and the susceptibility to fatigue of the human masseter muscle.

Seventeen healthy male subjects were asked to clench as long as possible in the intercuspal position while keeping the electromyographic activity (EMG) of the masseter muscle at 50 per cent of the maximum activity. The endurance time was used as an indicator for the muscular resistance to fatigue. At the 95 per cent probability level, there was a statistically-significant correlation between the endurance time and the root mean square value (RMS) of the EMG signal, the mean power frequency value (MPF) of the signal and the parameter MPF 100 per cent/MPF10 per cent used as an indicator for the contraction-level dependency of the mean power frequency. There was a strong correlation (p less than 0.001) between the endurance time and the rate of EMG frequency shift to lower frequencies measured during the first 30 s.

Adult↗

Sexual dimorphism in the rabbit masseter muscle: myosin heavy chain composition of neuromuscular compartments.

The myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform composition of six adult (>7 months old) male and female rabbit masseter muscles was studied using seven monoclonal antibodies. In matched serial tissue sections, muscle fibers in 10 different neuromuscular compartments were analyzed. Nearly all fibers were found to express one of five phenotypes. They either contained one of four different slow/beta MyHC phenotypes (I(1)-I(4)), nearly all of which co-express cardiac alpha MyHC, or they contained type IIa MyHC. Very few fibers contained slow/beta or cardiac alpha MyHC only or both the alpha/slow/beta and IIa isoforms. Most, but not all, of the compartments studied contained similar proportions of fibers of the five major phenotypes, at least within sex. For 7 of the 10 compartments studied, significant sex differences in the proportion of I(1) and IIa fibers were found. Males contained more IIa fibers and fewer I(1) fibers than females. Fibers of the IIa phenotype were significantly larger than fibers of all of the other phenotypes and larger in males than females.

Animals↗

Quantitative observations on maximum static work efforts and associated pain of the human masseter muscle.

The single case experimental design was used to study day-to-day variations in the onset (PL), tolerance (PT), and intensity (VAS) of masseter muscle pain. Pain was induced by maximum voluntary teeth clenching, with no artificial feedback-control of the level of isometric activity, and static work efforts were quantified by cumulative electromyography. A continual effort to produce maximum static work, about 40% increase from baseline work, elicited in 30-40 s an initial sensation of muscular pain that had an intensity of about 25% of maximum possible score. A further increase in maximum static work effort, about 60% increase from baseline work, caused in about 2 min an intolerable increase in the intensity of muscular pain, about 50% of maximum possible score. Whereas PL showed day-to-day variation, PT and the ratio PL:PT did not. Intensity (VAS) scores and maximum static work efforts showed no day-to-day variations. Onset (PL) and tolerance (PT) showed no linear associations with VAS scores, and VAS scores showed no linear associations with maximum static work efforts; if anything, the latter associations tended to resemble a cubic parabola. Two different central neural processes, not associated with maximum static work efforts in a simple linear manner, might have been instrumental in: (i) the establishment of criteria for onset and tolerance of pain, and (ii) the discrimination of variable levels of pain intensity.

Adult↗

[The reflex behavior of the masseter muscle under standardized stimuli].

Both reflex phenomena of the masticatory musculature (jaw-jerk-reflex and silent period) were studied in the masseter muscle under standardized reflexogenic conditions in terms of the strength of the stimulus and initial muscle tension. The measurements were carried out with loading forceps. The reflex time for the selfregulating reflex of the masseter for 11 subjects ranged from 7.4 to 9.4 ms; the latency time for the silent period, from 13.9 to 18.1 ms; the duration of the latency period, from 11 to 23 ms. On the basis of our data, no dependency could be established between these values and the strength of the stimulus or initial muscle tension. The silent period, in accordance with its neurophysiologic mode of development, was further differentiated into a monosynaptic, muscle-conditioned and a polysynaptic form. The experimental conception was analyzed critically in terms of its applicability for ongoing studies of the reflex activity of masticatory musculature.

Action Potentials↗

Fibrodysplasia ossificans circumscripta of the masseter muscle.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans circumscripta (FOC) is a lesion characterized by localized calcification of the investing fascia of skeletal muscle. It is often related to repeated trauma and was formerly known as traumatic myositis ossificans. Surgical procedures involving muscles are also believed to be a factor in the origin of the lesion. When FOC develops in the muscles of mastication it can lead to severe trismus. A case is reported of FOC in the left masseter muscle of a 44-year-old man who presented with marked limitation of opening. It was believed that previous fractures of the left maxilla and mandible and/or the subsequent surgical treatments were responsible for the onset of FOC. The radiographic and microscopic features of FOC are discussed in relation to recent theories on the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of the lesion.

Adult↗

[Magnetic stimulation of the scalp: the responses of the masseter muscles. I].

Magnetic stimulation of nervous elements is a new neurophysiological technique. It easily succeeds in stimulating the brain motor cortex. We applied this technique to the trigeminal motor system, recording responses in masseter muscles. The magnetic stimulations at 4 cm laterally to the vertex on the biauricular line elicited responses in the contralateral masseter due to activation of motor cortex or adjacent elements along the cortico-nuclear pathway. The ipsilateral responses to the same stimuli and to more lateral ones presented shorter latencies and they were ascribed to direct stimulation of the trigeminal nerve, probably its intracisternal portion. The latency values were 6.9 +/- 0.71 ms and 3.6 +/- 0.3 ms respectively.

Adult↗

Force-related changes in the masseter muscle reflex response to tooth-taps in man.

In 14 subjects with no disorder of the masticatory apparatus, excitatory and inhibitory reflex responses in the masseter muscles were derived by standardized mechanical stimulation of the upper central incisor. A series of eight taps was delivered during isometric contraction at 40% of maximum EMG activity, with tapping forces ranging from 0.25-9 N. The mean post-stimulus masseteric EMG complex (PSEC) consisted of up to three inhibitory (I-1, I-2 and I-3) and three excitatory phases. The first inhibitory wave increased in duration with increasing tapping force, and the second and third inhibitory waves occurred at higher thresholds than the first inhibitory wave.

Adolescent↗

Location of the neuromuscular junction of the human masseter muscle estimated from the low frequency component of the surface electromyogram.

The position of the neuromuscular junction of the human masseter muscle has estimated from the low frequency component of the surface electromyogram. Monopolar surface electromyograms were recorded in response to clenching from eight sites with the reference electrode placed on the tip of the nose in six healthy male subjects. Component of the slow wave was separated from the raw recordings using digital filter, and the difference of the polarity and magnitude with the sites was examined. The base line of the recordings deflected either negatively or positively depending on the recording sites. These deflections coincided with bursts of muscular action potentials. Deflection of the slow wave component was largely negative over the inferior masseter close to the mandibular ramus but shifted to positive over the superior part. The greatest magnitude of the muscular action potential coincided with the most negative deflection of the slow wave. The phase of the muscular action potential burst also reversed near the site of the polarity change of the slow wave. These findings suggest that the slow wave, as detected by this method, originates mainly from the synaptic potential at the meuromuscular junction and that this is located on the inferior part of the muscle close to the mandibular ramus.

Action Potentials↗