New Directions for Understanding Neural Control in Swallowing: The Potential and Promise of Motor Learning

Oropharyngeal swallowing is a complex sensorimotor phenomenon that has had decades of research dedicated to understanding it more thoroughly. However, the underlying neural mechanisms responsible for normal and disordered swallowing remain very vague. We consider this gap in knowledge the result of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Dysphagia 2013-03, Vol.28 (1), p.1-10
Main Authors: Humbert, Ianessa A., German, Rebecca Z.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Physiological
Care and treatment
Central Nervous System - physiology
Central Nervous System - physiopathology
Deglutition - physiology
Deglutition disorders
Deglutition Disorders - physiopathology
Deglutition Disorders - psychology
Deglutition Disorders - rehabilitation
Feedback, Sensory
Gastroenterology
Health aspects
Hepatology
Humans
Imaging
Learning - physiology
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Methods
Models, Biological
Motor learning
Motor Skills - physiology
Otorhinolaryngology
Physiological aspects
Radiology
Review Article
Volition - physiology
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Summary:Oropharyngeal swallowing is a complex sensorimotor phenomenon that has had decades of research dedicated to understanding it more thoroughly. However, the underlying neural mechanisms responsible for normal and disordered swallowing remain very vague. We consider this gap in knowledge the result of swallowing research that has been broad (identifying phenomena) but not deep (identifying what controls the phenomena). The goals of this review are to address the complexity of motor control of oropharyngeal swallowing and to review the principles of motor learning based on limb movements as a model system. We compare this literature on limb motor learning to what is known about oropharyngeal function as a first step toward suggesting the use of motor learning principles in swallowing research.
ISSN:0179-051X
1432-0460
DOI:10.1007/s00455-012-9432-y