Integrated study on mechanism of development and disorder of masticatory and swallowing function and visualization of neural circuits

阐明了咀嚼和吞咽功能的发展过程。结果表明，6周龄以上是小鼠上述功能发育的关键期。关于咀嚼和吞咽功能紊乱的机制，不太可能出现异常的中枢模式生成器。这种干扰可在低于中央图案生成器的位置产生。结果表明，控制颌部和舌部运动的神经回路之间存在相互作用。

A process of development of masticatory and swallowing function was elucidated. As a result, it was suggested that the critical period of development of those functions was beyond 6 weeks of age in mice. Regarding the mechanism of disorder of masticatory and swallowing function, the formation of an abnormal central pattern generator is unlikely to occur. Such a disturbance may be produced at the site inferior to the central pattern generator. The obtained results indicated that neural circuits controlling jaw and tongue movements have a mutual interaction.