J.Neurol.Sci.[Turk] 214 Journal of Neurological Sciences [Turkish] 26:(2)# 19; 214-220, 2009 http://www.jns.dergisi.org/text.php3?id=292 Research Article Is Palmomental Reflex Actually A Part of Feeding Behavior? Burcu UĞUREL 2 , Ibrahim OZTURA 1 , Ufuk SENER 2 , Ozlem SENOCAK 2 , Dilek HUREL 2 , Gorsev YENER 1 , Cumhur ERTEKİN 3 1 Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurology, Izmir, Turkey 2 Dokuz Eylul University, Institute of Health Sciences, Neurosciences, Izmir, Turkey 3 Invited Scientist, Izmir, Turkey Summary Purpose and hypothesis: Palmomental reflex is considered to be a primitive reflex and related to pathologic processes. The reflex can be obtained from every individual by electrophysiologic measures. There have been no reports concerning submental, orbicularis oris and masseter muscle reflex responses provoked by median nerve stimulation in healthy elderly individuals and patients with dementia up to now. Method: In the present study the median nerve was stimulated below the pain threshold and activities obtained from mental, submental, orbicularis oris and masseter muscles were recorded simultaneously in patients with dementia (n = 18) and in healthy elderly individuals (n = 18). Result: Latencies obtained from mental, submental, orbicularis oris and masseter muscles were approximately recorded within 80 – 100 milliseconds and the differences between the latencies were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The palmomental reflex seems to be an activity co-occurring with functions like mouth opening and swallowing, and reflecting hand – mouth reaction, rather than being only a primitive reflex involving mental muscle. We believe close temporal relationship among the activities of mental, submental, orbicularis oris and masetter muscles after hand stimulation requires these reflexes to be investigated in the physiology of hand and mouth coordination in further studies. Key words: Palmomental reflex, perioral muscles, electromyography, feeding Palmomental reflex, perioral muscles, electromyography, feding Özet Amaç ve hipotez: Palmomental refleks, ilkel bir refleks olarak düşünülür ve patolojik durumlarla ilişkilidir. Elektrofizyolojik olarak ise tüm bireylerden elde edilebilir. Sağlıklı yaşlılar ve demansif hastalarda, median sinir uyarımı ile submental, orbicularis oris ve masseter kaslarının refleks yanıtlarıyla ilişkili bir bildiri yapılmamıştır. Yöntem: Bu çalışmada, demanslı hastalarda (n=18) ve sağlıklı yaşlılarda (n=18) median sinir ağrı eşiği altında uyarıldı ve mental, submental, orbicularis oris ve masseter kaslarından eş zamanlı elde edilen aktiviteler kayıtlandı. Bulgular: Tüm olgularda mental, submental, orbicularis oris ve masseter kaslarından elde edilen latanslar yaklaşık 80-100 milisaniye olarak saptandı ve latanslar arasında fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildi. Sonuç: Bilekte median sinir uyarımı ile tüm kaslardan benzer latanslı yanıt alınması, palmomental refleksin sadece mental kas ile ilgili ilkel bir refleks olmaktan ziyade el-ağız