A COMPUTER-CONTROLLED EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP ENABLING THE QUANTIFICATIONOF MOTOR-PERFORMANCE IN MAN, APPLIED TO MASTICATION

This paper describes a computer-controlled experimental set-up, which enables the simulation and manipulation of the resistance of food, the bolus size and reflex evoking events during chewing in man. Food resi stance was simulated by an external downward directed force on the man dible during the closing phase. The force was supplied by a magnet-coi l system. A coil, rigidly attached to the subject's mandible, was loca ted in a permanent magnetic field. By varying the current through the coil, the force on the coil and thus on the mandible could be adjusted . The current was on line computed as a function of the jaw gape. Food resistance and bolus size could be simulated and manipulated by varyi ng the amplitude of the force and the jaw gape at which the force star ted, respectively. The possibility of varying these parameters could b e used simultaneously and independently. Reflex evoking events were si mulated by an additional loading or unloading force pulse, superimpose d on the food-simulating force. The set-up has been tested during expe riments in which food resistance, bolus size and reflex evoking events were simulated. Examples of these experiments are presented in this p aper.