The electrophysiological features of voluntarily induced and reflexive/spon
taneous swallows were investigated. In normal subjects, swallows were elici
ted by infusing water either into the mouth (1-3 ml) or directly into the o
ropharyngeal region through a nasopharyngeal cannula (0.3-1 ml). For water
infused orally, subjects were either requested to swallow voluntarily or in
structed to resist swallowing and maintain the horizontal head position unt
il swallowing occurred reflexively. Spontaneous saliva swallowing was inves
tigated in patients with severe dysphagia who had a prominent clinical pict
ure of suprabulbar palsy. Comparisons between different swallowing types we
re made by measuring the time interval between the onset of submental elect
romyographic activity (SM-EMG) and the onset of the upward movement of the
larynx recorded by a movement sensor. This interval was less than 100 ms, e
ven frequently less than 50 ms, in reflexive/spontaneous swallows, while in
voluntarily induced swallows it was substantially longer. The rising time
of submental muscle's excitation was also shorter in reflexive/spontaneous
swallows. It was suggested that the triggering of voluntarily induced swall
ows commences more than 100 ms before the onset of swallowing reflex and th
at this mechanism is under the control of corticobulbar-pyramidal pathways.
If the swallowing reflex is triggered within such a short period of time f
ollowing the onset of SM-EMG, the central control by the bulbar swallowing
center should be effective until the end of oropharyngeal swallowing.