BACKGROUND Ischemic stroke(IS)is a widely recognized disease characterized by high preva-lence,mortality,morbidity,disability,and recurrence rates.It ranks prominently in terms of mortality,constituting 60%-80%of stro...BACKGROUND Ischemic stroke(IS)is a widely recognized disease characterized by high preva-lence,mortality,morbidity,disability,and recurrence rates.It ranks prominently in terms of mortality,constituting 60%-80%of stroke cases.AIM To explore the impact of comprehensive nursing care on the quality of life and swallowing function in individuals diagnosed with IS.METHODS This study comprised 172 patients with IS admitted to our hospital between February 2018 to March 2021.The participants were divided into two groups,namely the control group(n=80)receiving routine care and the research group(n=92)receiving comprehensive care.Various assessment scales,including the standard swallowing function assessment scale(SSA),National Institutes of Health Stroke scale(NIHSS),European stroke scale(ESS),self-rating anxiety scale(SAS),self-rating depression scale(SDS),Barthel index(BI),and the motor func-tion assessment scale(MAS),were employed to evaluate the improvement in swallowing function,neurological deficits,clinical outcomes,anxiety,depression,daily living activities,and motor function before and after care.Furthermore,the study compared the occurrence of adverse reactions during the nursing period,life quality before and after the intervention,rehabilitation compliance,and nursing satisfaction between the two groups.RESULTS After the nursing intervention,the research group exhibited significantly improved SSA and NIHSS scores compared to the control group(P<0.05).Moreover,both groups demonstrated significant reductions in SAS and SDS scores(P<0.05),with the research group showing more obvious advantages(P<0.05).Compared to the control group,the research group displayed significantly better ESS,BI,and MAS scores(P<0.05),coupled with a lower incidence of adverse reactions(P<0.05).Additionally,the research group demonstrated markedly higher levels of life quality,rehabilitation compliance,and nursing satisfaction compared to the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Comprehensive nursing effectively improved swallowing function,quality of life,and patient satisfaction,high-lighting its clinical significance.展开更多
Hu et al explored the impact of comprehensive nursing model on swallowing function and quality of life in patients with ischemic stroke.They divided 172 patients into the control group(routine care)and the research gr...Hu et al explored the impact of comprehensive nursing model on swallowing function and quality of life in patients with ischemic stroke.They divided 172 patients into the control group(routine care)and the research group(comprehensive care),and used standard scales to evaluate the swallowing function,neurological deficit,anxiety and depression,daily living ability,and exercise of the two groups of patients before and after care.Changes in indicators of function,quality of life,and compliance.The results showed that compared with the control group,patients in the study group achieved significant improvements in various indicators,with a lower incidence of adverse reactions and higher satisfaction with care.These data suggest that the comprehensive nursing model can significantly improve the swallowing function,quality of life and satisfaction of patients with ischemic stroke.In the future,the development of comprehensive nursing models needs to focus on technological innovation,humanized services,continuing education and training,multi-disciplinary collaboration,optimal allocation of resources,standardized practice and evaluation,etc.,in order to improve nursing effects and promote the improvement of medical service quality.展开更多
Objectives:The relationship between eating and swallowing function,and lifestyle among community-dwelling elderly people has not been extensively studied.This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of eating and s...Objectives:The relationship between eating and swallowing function,and lifestyle among community-dwelling elderly people has not been extensively studied.This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of eating and swallowing function and their association with the lifestyle among the elderly.Methods:A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on 419 elderly people who participated in the oral function improvement project operated by the Community Comprehensive Support Center.A total of 288 valid responses(58 males,230 females,average age 73.6 years)were analyzed.The survey items included basic demographics,health status,lifestyle,and eating and swallowing functions.The chi-square(χ2)test was used to compare for a difference in the risk of dysphagia.Results:72 patients(25.0%)were judged to be at risk for dysphagia,and 216(75.0%)were judged to be not at risk for dysphagia using the revised dysphagia risk assessment scale.The mean score for oral preparatory dysphagia was the highest,while the mean score for pharyngeal dysphagia was the lowest.The group at risk of dysphagia had significant difficulty in chewing and had bad sleep quality as compared to the group that was not at risk.Conclusion:Concerning the risk of dysphagia,there is a need to maintain and improve masticatory function.In addition,improving the swallowing function of the elderly may prevent insomnia and improve sleep quality.展开更多
BACKGROUND Stroke is a common disabling disease,whether it is ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke,both can result in neuronal damage,leading to various manifestations of neurological dysfunction.AIM To explore of th...BACKGROUND Stroke is a common disabling disease,whether it is ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke,both can result in neuronal damage,leading to various manifestations of neurological dysfunction.AIM To explore of the application value of swallowing treatment device combined with swallowing rehabilitation training in the treatment of swallowing disorders after stroke.METHODS This study selected 86 patients with swallowing disorders after stroke admitted to our rehabilitation department from February 2022 to December 2023 as research subjects.They were divided into a control group(n=43)and an observation group(n=43)according to the treatment.The control group received swallowing rehabilitation training,while the observation group received swallowing treatment device in addition to the training.Both groups underwent continuous intervention for two courses of treatment.RESULTS The total effective rate in the observation group(93.02%)was higher than that in the control group(76.74%)(P=0.035).After intervention,the oral transit time,swallowing response time,pharyngeal transit time,and laryngeal closure time decreased in both groups compared to before intervention.In the observation group,the oral transit time,swallowing response time,and pharyngeal transit time were shorter than those in the control group after intervention.However,the laryngeal closure time after intervention in the observation group was compared with that in the control group(P=0.142).After intervention,average amplitude value and duration of the genioglossus muscle group during empty swallowing and swallowing 5 mL of water are reduced compared to before intervention in both groups.After intervention,the scores of the chin-tuck swallowing exercise and the Standardized Swallowing Assessment are both reduced compared to pre-intervention levels in both groups.However,the observation group scores lower than the control group after intervention.Additionally,the Functional Oral Intake Scale scores of both groups are increased after intervention compared to pre-intervention levels,with the observation group scoring higher than the control group after intervention(P<0.001).The cumulative incidence of complications in the observation group is 9.30%,which is lower than the 27.91%in the control group(P=0.027).CONCLUSION The combination of swallowing therapy equipment with swallowing rehabilitation training can improve the muscle movement level of the genioglossus muscle group,enhance swallowing function,and prevent the occurrence of swallowing-related complications after stroke.展开更多
<b><span style="font-family:"">Objective</span></b><span style="font-family:"">: Oral diadochokinesis (ODK) has been shown to be associated with oral frailty...<b><span style="font-family:"">Objective</span></b><span style="font-family:"">: Oral diadochokinesis (ODK) has been shown to be associated with oral frailty. In this study, we investigate the relationship between physical function, swallowing function, nutritional evaluation, and each syllable of ODK. <b>Methods</b>: The subjects are 26 elderly people living in an area where <span>they can walk. ODK, tongue pressure, modified water swallowing test, EAT-10,</span> grip strength, MNA-SF, skeletal muscle index, height, weight, and BMI were evaluated. For statistical analysis based on ODK values, the subjects were divided into two groups on the basis of the number of times the syllables /pa/, /ta/, and /ka/ were repeated: 1) The first group with >6 repetitions exceeded six</span><span style="font-family:"">;</span><span style="font-family:""> 2) the second group with ≤5 repetitions. Both groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test (Model 1). In addition, the syllables /pa/, /ta/, and /ka/ were also divided among the groups and a comparison was performed (Model 2). <b>Results</b>: In Model 1, the tongue pressure value was significantly higher in the good group (p < 0.01). In Model 2, the good group showed significantly higher values for the syllables /pa/ (p < 0.01) and /ta/ (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the values for the syllable /ka/. <b>Conclusion</b>: In community-dwelling elderly people, tongue pressure was positively associated with ODK values for the syllables /pa/ and /ta/, suggesting that tongue pressure may be associated with strength of the lip and tongue tip muscles. Furthermore, it was suggested that the ODK values may even be lower than normal values in the elderly who maintain skeletal muscle mass and thus have adequate tongue pressure;therefore, these indicators may be used as a guideline to assess oral frailty.展开更多
This study aimed to evaluate the quality of healthcare services pertaining to the dietary intake and swallowing functions of residents, nutrition management practices, and performance of residents at long-term care fa...This study aimed to evaluate the quality of healthcare services pertaining to the dietary intake and swallowing functions of residents, nutrition management practices, and performance of residents at long-term care facilities. We investigated outcome indicators, such as changes in dietary intake and swallowing function levels of residents, and clarified which structural and process indicators were associated with the outcome indicators. This was a retrospective study, analyzing information on healthcare services from 1067 long-term care facilities during the fiscal year 2012, sampled from among those registered with the Welfare, Health and Medical Care Information Network of the Welfare and Medical Service Agency in Japan. Five outcome indicators were identified. Next, we examined the relationships between the outcome indicators and structural or process indicators using a multivariate linear regression model, adjusting for facility type. The findings showed how the five outcome indicators were used in long-term care facilities over a period of one year and determined the independent predictors of these outcome indicators. The amplification of dietary function 1 was associated with “assessment of oral functions using a feeding and swallowing assessment checklist every three months”, “holding care conferences related to ingestion and swallowing every three months”, and “maintaining a 1:2 ratio for meal-time assistants to residents”. To improve the quality of care, it is necessary to increase the number of staff (e.g., to provide meal assistance to residents) and to understand changes in the residents’ status through accurate assessment and monitoring.展开更多
Purpose: Swallowing function was in a patient with tongue cancer that was evaluated with video fluorography before and after subtotal glossectomy and reconstruction with a rectus abdominis muscuocutaneous flap. Materi...Purpose: Swallowing function was in a patient with tongue cancer that was evaluated with video fluorography before and after subtotal glossectomy and reconstruction with a rectus abdominis muscuocutaneous flap. Materials and Methods: A 41-year-old man underwent subtotal glossectomy and retained the unilateral posterior mylohyoid and unilateral stylohyoid muscles. The structure of the flap was evaluated postoperatively. To assess swallowing function, video fluorography was performed before surgery, 1 month after surgery and 1 year after surgery. Testing involved 1) ability to hold 10 mL of liquid in the oral cavity, 2) epiglottis turnover, 3) the presence of aspiration, 4) hyoid bone movement, and 5) maximum width of the esophageal entrance. Results: The flap was protuberant postoperatively. The patient was able to hold the test diet in the oral cavity before and after surgery. Epiglottis turnover was good before surgery but insufficient after surgery. Aspiration during swallowing was not observed before or after surgery. At rest, the hyoid bone sagged postoperatively, in comparison with preoperatively. Hyoid bone movement and width of the esophageal entrance decreased after surgery;however, they demonstrated gradual recovery. Conclusions: For good postoperative swallowing function after subtotal glossectomy, it is necessary to perform reconstruction with protuberant flap and to retain the suprahyoid muscles as much as possible.展开更多
This article summarizes the current rehabilitation treatment methods for dysphagia after stroke,including feeding-swallowing function treatment,acupuncture treatment,neuromuscular electrical stimulation,balloon cathet...This article summarizes the current rehabilitation treatment methods for dysphagia after stroke,including feeding-swallowing function treatment,acupuncture treatment,neuromuscular electrical stimulation,balloon catheter dilatation,etc.,all of which have many clinical applications,hoping to play a guiding role in future research.展开更多
BACKGROUND: While brain-imaging studies in healthy adults have indicated that multiple cortical regions are involved in swallowing, these functional imaging techniques have not been extensively applied to the complet...BACKGROUND: While brain-imaging studies in healthy adults have indicated that multiple cortical regions are involved in swallowing, these functional imaging techniques have not been extensively applied to the complete understand neurophysiology of swallowing in China. A full understanding of normal swallowing neurophysiology is important for improving functional outcomes for dysphagia due to neurologic disorders or damage with increasing age. Thus the interpretations of the functional contributions of various brain areas in swallowing should be scientifically researched. OBJECTIVE: To identify the activation and characteristic of swallowing center in healthy adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An uncontrolled neuroimaging study was performed at the Outpatient Clinic, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University between March and November 2008. PARTICIPANTS: Ten healthy right-handed volunteers, aged over 20 years with a mean age of (34.2 + 8.1) years, a range of 25-45 years and including five males and five females participated. A medical history was obtained from all potential subjects and all subjects were free of systemic diseases and neurological disorders. METHODS: The healthy volunteers were examined with event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging of blood oxygenation level-dependent while laryngeal swallow-related movements were recorded. Subjects were scanned during voluntary saliva swallowing and water bolus swallowing activation tasks. Data was processed using the General Linear Model. A voxel by voxel group comparison was performed using random effect analysis. Any cluster with a corrected P 〈 0.05 for spatial extent was considered significant. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The cerebral cortical activation maps of voluntary swallowing of saliva and swallowing of water bolus in healthy adults were observed. RESULTS: A multifocal cortical representation of swallowing was in the precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, insula, anterior cingulate gyrus, thalamus, basal ganglia and cerebellum, in a bilateral and asymmetrical manner, predominantly on the left hemisphere in the volunteers (P 〈 0.05). CONCLUSION: Activation of the cortex during normal swallowing tasks may be functionally linked to basal nuclei, thalamus, and cerebellum, greatly appearing in the left hemisphere.展开更多
基金This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hengyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital(No.202001151).
文摘BACKGROUND Ischemic stroke(IS)is a widely recognized disease characterized by high preva-lence,mortality,morbidity,disability,and recurrence rates.It ranks prominently in terms of mortality,constituting 60%-80%of stroke cases.AIM To explore the impact of comprehensive nursing care on the quality of life and swallowing function in individuals diagnosed with IS.METHODS This study comprised 172 patients with IS admitted to our hospital between February 2018 to March 2021.The participants were divided into two groups,namely the control group(n=80)receiving routine care and the research group(n=92)receiving comprehensive care.Various assessment scales,including the standard swallowing function assessment scale(SSA),National Institutes of Health Stroke scale(NIHSS),European stroke scale(ESS),self-rating anxiety scale(SAS),self-rating depression scale(SDS),Barthel index(BI),and the motor func-tion assessment scale(MAS),were employed to evaluate the improvement in swallowing function,neurological deficits,clinical outcomes,anxiety,depression,daily living activities,and motor function before and after care.Furthermore,the study compared the occurrence of adverse reactions during the nursing period,life quality before and after the intervention,rehabilitation compliance,and nursing satisfaction between the two groups.RESULTS After the nursing intervention,the research group exhibited significantly improved SSA and NIHSS scores compared to the control group(P<0.05).Moreover,both groups demonstrated significant reductions in SAS and SDS scores(P<0.05),with the research group showing more obvious advantages(P<0.05).Compared to the control group,the research group displayed significantly better ESS,BI,and MAS scores(P<0.05),coupled with a lower incidence of adverse reactions(P<0.05).Additionally,the research group demonstrated markedly higher levels of life quality,rehabilitation compliance,and nursing satisfaction compared to the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Comprehensive nursing effectively improved swallowing function,quality of life,and patient satisfaction,high-lighting its clinical significance.
基金Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Universities,No.2023AH040411.
文摘Hu et al explored the impact of comprehensive nursing model on swallowing function and quality of life in patients with ischemic stroke.They divided 172 patients into the control group(routine care)and the research group(comprehensive care),and used standard scales to evaluate the swallowing function,neurological deficit,anxiety and depression,daily living ability,and exercise of the two groups of patients before and after care.Changes in indicators of function,quality of life,and compliance.The results showed that compared with the control group,patients in the study group achieved significant improvements in various indicators,with a lower incidence of adverse reactions and higher satisfaction with care.These data suggest that the comprehensive nursing model can significantly improve the swallowing function,quality of life and satisfaction of patients with ischemic stroke.In the future,the development of comprehensive nursing models needs to focus on technological innovation,humanized services,continuing education and training,multi-disciplinary collaboration,optimal allocation of resources,standardized practice and evaluation,etc.,in order to improve nursing effects and promote the improvement of medical service quality.
文摘Objectives:The relationship between eating and swallowing function,and lifestyle among community-dwelling elderly people has not been extensively studied.This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of eating and swallowing function and their association with the lifestyle among the elderly.Methods:A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on 419 elderly people who participated in the oral function improvement project operated by the Community Comprehensive Support Center.A total of 288 valid responses(58 males,230 females,average age 73.6 years)were analyzed.The survey items included basic demographics,health status,lifestyle,and eating and swallowing functions.The chi-square(χ2)test was used to compare for a difference in the risk of dysphagia.Results:72 patients(25.0%)were judged to be at risk for dysphagia,and 216(75.0%)were judged to be not at risk for dysphagia using the revised dysphagia risk assessment scale.The mean score for oral preparatory dysphagia was the highest,while the mean score for pharyngeal dysphagia was the lowest.The group at risk of dysphagia had significant difficulty in chewing and had bad sleep quality as compared to the group that was not at risk.Conclusion:Concerning the risk of dysphagia,there is a need to maintain and improve masticatory function.In addition,improving the swallowing function of the elderly may prevent insomnia and improve sleep quality.
文摘BACKGROUND Stroke is a common disabling disease,whether it is ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke,both can result in neuronal damage,leading to various manifestations of neurological dysfunction.AIM To explore of the application value of swallowing treatment device combined with swallowing rehabilitation training in the treatment of swallowing disorders after stroke.METHODS This study selected 86 patients with swallowing disorders after stroke admitted to our rehabilitation department from February 2022 to December 2023 as research subjects.They were divided into a control group(n=43)and an observation group(n=43)according to the treatment.The control group received swallowing rehabilitation training,while the observation group received swallowing treatment device in addition to the training.Both groups underwent continuous intervention for two courses of treatment.RESULTS The total effective rate in the observation group(93.02%)was higher than that in the control group(76.74%)(P=0.035).After intervention,the oral transit time,swallowing response time,pharyngeal transit time,and laryngeal closure time decreased in both groups compared to before intervention.In the observation group,the oral transit time,swallowing response time,and pharyngeal transit time were shorter than those in the control group after intervention.However,the laryngeal closure time after intervention in the observation group was compared with that in the control group(P=0.142).After intervention,average amplitude value and duration of the genioglossus muscle group during empty swallowing and swallowing 5 mL of water are reduced compared to before intervention in both groups.After intervention,the scores of the chin-tuck swallowing exercise and the Standardized Swallowing Assessment are both reduced compared to pre-intervention levels in both groups.However,the observation group scores lower than the control group after intervention.Additionally,the Functional Oral Intake Scale scores of both groups are increased after intervention compared to pre-intervention levels,with the observation group scoring higher than the control group after intervention(P<0.001).The cumulative incidence of complications in the observation group is 9.30%,which is lower than the 27.91%in the control group(P=0.027).CONCLUSION The combination of swallowing therapy equipment with swallowing rehabilitation training can improve the muscle movement level of the genioglossus muscle group,enhance swallowing function,and prevent the occurrence of swallowing-related complications after stroke.
文摘<b><span style="font-family:"">Objective</span></b><span style="font-family:"">: Oral diadochokinesis (ODK) has been shown to be associated with oral frailty. In this study, we investigate the relationship between physical function, swallowing function, nutritional evaluation, and each syllable of ODK. <b>Methods</b>: The subjects are 26 elderly people living in an area where <span>they can walk. ODK, tongue pressure, modified water swallowing test, EAT-10,</span> grip strength, MNA-SF, skeletal muscle index, height, weight, and BMI were evaluated. For statistical analysis based on ODK values, the subjects were divided into two groups on the basis of the number of times the syllables /pa/, /ta/, and /ka/ were repeated: 1) The first group with >6 repetitions exceeded six</span><span style="font-family:"">;</span><span style="font-family:""> 2) the second group with ≤5 repetitions. Both groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test (Model 1). In addition, the syllables /pa/, /ta/, and /ka/ were also divided among the groups and a comparison was performed (Model 2). <b>Results</b>: In Model 1, the tongue pressure value was significantly higher in the good group (p < 0.01). In Model 2, the good group showed significantly higher values for the syllables /pa/ (p < 0.01) and /ta/ (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the values for the syllable /ka/. <b>Conclusion</b>: In community-dwelling elderly people, tongue pressure was positively associated with ODK values for the syllables /pa/ and /ta/, suggesting that tongue pressure may be associated with strength of the lip and tongue tip muscles. Furthermore, it was suggested that the ODK values may even be lower than normal values in the elderly who maintain skeletal muscle mass and thus have adequate tongue pressure;therefore, these indicators may be used as a guideline to assess oral frailty.
文摘This study aimed to evaluate the quality of healthcare services pertaining to the dietary intake and swallowing functions of residents, nutrition management practices, and performance of residents at long-term care facilities. We investigated outcome indicators, such as changes in dietary intake and swallowing function levels of residents, and clarified which structural and process indicators were associated with the outcome indicators. This was a retrospective study, analyzing information on healthcare services from 1067 long-term care facilities during the fiscal year 2012, sampled from among those registered with the Welfare, Health and Medical Care Information Network of the Welfare and Medical Service Agency in Japan. Five outcome indicators were identified. Next, we examined the relationships between the outcome indicators and structural or process indicators using a multivariate linear regression model, adjusting for facility type. The findings showed how the five outcome indicators were used in long-term care facilities over a period of one year and determined the independent predictors of these outcome indicators. The amplification of dietary function 1 was associated with “assessment of oral functions using a feeding and swallowing assessment checklist every three months”, “holding care conferences related to ingestion and swallowing every three months”, and “maintaining a 1:2 ratio for meal-time assistants to residents”. To improve the quality of care, it is necessary to increase the number of staff (e.g., to provide meal assistance to residents) and to understand changes in the residents’ status through accurate assessment and monitoring.
文摘Purpose: Swallowing function was in a patient with tongue cancer that was evaluated with video fluorography before and after subtotal glossectomy and reconstruction with a rectus abdominis muscuocutaneous flap. Materials and Methods: A 41-year-old man underwent subtotal glossectomy and retained the unilateral posterior mylohyoid and unilateral stylohyoid muscles. The structure of the flap was evaluated postoperatively. To assess swallowing function, video fluorography was performed before surgery, 1 month after surgery and 1 year after surgery. Testing involved 1) ability to hold 10 mL of liquid in the oral cavity, 2) epiglottis turnover, 3) the presence of aspiration, 4) hyoid bone movement, and 5) maximum width of the esophageal entrance. Results: The flap was protuberant postoperatively. The patient was able to hold the test diet in the oral cavity before and after surgery. Epiglottis turnover was good before surgery but insufficient after surgery. Aspiration during swallowing was not observed before or after surgery. At rest, the hyoid bone sagged postoperatively, in comparison with preoperatively. Hyoid bone movement and width of the esophageal entrance decreased after surgery;however, they demonstrated gradual recovery. Conclusions: For good postoperative swallowing function after subtotal glossectomy, it is necessary to perform reconstruction with protuberant flap and to retain the suprahyoid muscles as much as possible.
基金Supported by Hospital-level Project of Shiyan Taihe Hospital(2019JJXM117)。
文摘This article summarizes the current rehabilitation treatment methods for dysphagia after stroke,including feeding-swallowing function treatment,acupuncture treatment,neuromuscular electrical stimulation,balloon catheter dilatation,etc.,all of which have many clinical applications,hoping to play a guiding role in future research.
基金Supported by:the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30625024Supported by:the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30728017+1 种基金Supported by:the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30525030National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program),No. 2007CB512305/1
文摘BACKGROUND: While brain-imaging studies in healthy adults have indicated that multiple cortical regions are involved in swallowing, these functional imaging techniques have not been extensively applied to the complete understand neurophysiology of swallowing in China. A full understanding of normal swallowing neurophysiology is important for improving functional outcomes for dysphagia due to neurologic disorders or damage with increasing age. Thus the interpretations of the functional contributions of various brain areas in swallowing should be scientifically researched. OBJECTIVE: To identify the activation and characteristic of swallowing center in healthy adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An uncontrolled neuroimaging study was performed at the Outpatient Clinic, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University between March and November 2008. PARTICIPANTS: Ten healthy right-handed volunteers, aged over 20 years with a mean age of (34.2 + 8.1) years, a range of 25-45 years and including five males and five females participated. A medical history was obtained from all potential subjects and all subjects were free of systemic diseases and neurological disorders. METHODS: The healthy volunteers were examined with event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging of blood oxygenation level-dependent while laryngeal swallow-related movements were recorded. Subjects were scanned during voluntary saliva swallowing and water bolus swallowing activation tasks. Data was processed using the General Linear Model. A voxel by voxel group comparison was performed using random effect analysis. Any cluster with a corrected P 〈 0.05 for spatial extent was considered significant. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The cerebral cortical activation maps of voluntary swallowing of saliva and swallowing of water bolus in healthy adults were observed. RESULTS: A multifocal cortical representation of swallowing was in the precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, insula, anterior cingulate gyrus, thalamus, basal ganglia and cerebellum, in a bilateral and asymmetrical manner, predominantly on the left hemisphere in the volunteers (P 〈 0.05). CONCLUSION: Activation of the cortex during normal swallowing tasks may be functionally linked to basal nuclei, thalamus, and cerebellum, greatly appearing in the left hemisphere.