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Sensorimotor Elements of the Orofacial System: Reviewing the Basics

Dept of Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Communication Sciences & Disorders, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40536-0200

The functional ability of the central nervous system (CNS) to transduce and process sensory information directly associated with voluntary action is believed to be an important element in sensorimotor learning and skill acquisition for the orofacial system. Muscles of the lower face insert directly into the facial skin, allowing for sensory endings to encode both the static and dynamic consequences of force and movement related to orofacial behavior. These task-related inputs are subsequently made available to sensorimotor cortices whose functions are known to be highly responsive to the consequences underlying precise adjustments in force during skilled motor control. The purpose of this article is to provide a basic review of the fundamental muscular and sensory elements contributing to orofacial sensorimotor control. In addition, select research on sensorimotor integration in the orofacial system will be summarized with a discussion on the importance of these findings in the context of orofacial rehabilitation.