Lasting modulation of human cortical swallowing motor pathways following thermal tongue stimulation

Background Thermal tactile oropharyngeal stimulation has been clinically used to facilitate swallowing initiation in dysphagic patients. We previously demonstrated that thermal stimulation applied to the oral cavity provokes an immediate excitability in pharyngeal motor cortex. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether thermal stimulation can produce longer lasting effects on the corticopharyngeal neural pathway. Methods Healthy...