Exteroceptive suppression of the masseter and temporalis muscles produced by electrical stimulation of the mental nerve in patients with Parkinson's disease

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Abstract
Exteroceptive suppression of the masseter and temporalis muscles, produced by electrical stimulation of the mental nerve, was studied in 23 cases of Parkinson's disease (PD) and 20 age‐matched control subjects. Two components were usually observed: early (ES1) and late (ES2). ES2 was estimated in this study. The background electromyographic activity prior to the stimulation showed no difference between normal subjects and patients with PD. The latency of suppression in patients with PD was not different from that in normal subjects. The duration and the degree of suppression were lower in patients with PD when compared with the normal subjects. The reduction of exteroceptive suppression might, at least in part, play a role in the failure of motor control of the face in PD.