What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to understand the effects of oropharyngeal exercises on sensorimotor function and corticomotor control in healthy adults.

June 7, 2026Open Access

Effects of oropharyngeal exercises on orofacial function and corticomotor excitability in healthy individuals

Key Points

The study aims to understand the effects of oropharyngeal exercises on sensorimotor function and corticomotor control in healthy adults.
Cross-over design involving 22 healthy adults (24.1 ± 3.1 years)
Interventions included breathing training, tongue training, and a control session
Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to measure motor-evoked potentials of the tongue and internal control muscle.
Tongue training significantly increased tongue motor-evoked potential amplitude (P < 0.001) and volume (P < 0.001) compared to breathing training and control.
No significant changes in first dorsal interosseous motor-evoked potentials (P > 0.050) or secondary outcomes like orofacial pressure.
Findings indicate unique corticomotor excitability in tongue control, suggesting early-phase neurophysiological adaptation.

Abstract

Oropharyngeal exercises/myofunctional therapy (OE/MT) offer complementary benefits for obstructive sleep apnea. However, the complex nature of the intervention impedes the understanding of the underlying mechanisms related to sensorimotor function and corticomotor control of involved muscles. This study explored the sensorimotor rehabilitation effects of OE/MT tasks in twenty-two healthy adults (24.1 ± 3.1 years) using a cross-over design to better understand the normal physiology of the tongue before and after these different tasks. Sessions involved breathing training (BT), tongue training (TT), or a no-training control (CT). Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) evaluated motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) of the tongue and first dorsal interosseous (FDI, internal control) muscles before and after each session. Secondary outcomes included orofacial muscular pressure/force, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), oral stereognosis ability, and subjective ratings. Results showed TT significantly increased tongue MEP amplitude (P 0.050). No significant differences were observed in orofacial pressure, PEFR, stereognosis, or subjective ratings (P > 0.050). These findings demonstrate that TT elicits unique corticomotor excitability in tongue motor control, which may represent early-phase neurophysiological adaptation rather than established neuroplastic change, providing mechanistic insight into the neurophysiological effects of OE/MT. BT may need further development and be tested longer before functional effects can be observed.

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