Healthy Adult Participants
Conditions
Keywords
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, tongue, motor-evoked potentials, respiratory muscle training, corticomotor excitability
Brief summary
The tongue plays a central role in essential oral functions, including swallowing, speech, and upper airway control. Its coordinated interaction with the respiratory system is particularly relevant in clinical conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea and dysphagia. While respiratory muscle training is increasingly used in these contexts, its effects on the neural control of tongue function remain poorly understood. This randomized cross-over pilot study aimed to investigate the acute effects of inspiratory (IMT) and expiratory (EMT) muscle training on tongue corticomotor excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation. These results will provide novel insight into the neurophysiological mechanisms linking respiratory interventions and oral motor control.
Interventions
DEVICEIMT
An inspiratory threshold loading device set at 50% of the baseline maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) was used. The training session consisted of five cycles of 20 breaths performed against the device, with a 2-minute rest period between cycles. Each breath consisted of quiet exhalation through the device, followed by a deep and forceful inspiration against the prescribed load.
DEVICEEMT
An expiratory threshold loading device set at 50% of the baseline maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax) was used. The training session consisted of five cycles of 20 breaths performed against the device, with a 2-minute rest period between cycles. Each breath consisted of quiet inhalation through the device, followed by a deep and forceful expiration against the set load.
Sponsors
Université Catholique de Louvain
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* 18 years of age or older * good general health * ability to read and understand the project information
Exclusion criteria
* medical, physical or psychological disorder * metal implants in the head * medications affecting the nervous system * craniofacial abnormalities * neuromuscular or inflammatory diseases * history of epilepsy * presence of pacemaker or implanted medical devices * pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Motor-evoked potentials | Measured two times: immediately before the training session (baseline) and immediately after completion of the training session (approximately 45 minutes after baseline) | The amplitude of tongue-related motor-evoked potentials are assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation over the tongue motor cortex. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Inspiratory and Expiratory Pressure | Measured two times: immediately before the training session (baseline) and immediately after completion of the training session (approximately 45 minutes after baseline) | Maximum Inspiratory and Expiratory pressure will be measured via the POWERBreathe device |
| Tongue elevation peak pressure | Measured two times: immediately before the training session (baseline) and immediately after completion of the training session (approximately 45 minutes after baseline) | Tongue peak pressure during elevation movements will be measured via the IOPI device |
Countries
Denmark
Outcome results
None listed