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Ontogeny of feeding motor patterns in infant rats: an electromyographic analysis of suckling and chewing.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Westneat, MW; Hall, WG
Published in: Behavioral neuroscience
June 1992

During mammalian ontogeny, there is a transition from suckling to the chewing of food. The question was asked: Is suckling a neuromuscular precursor to chewing, or are suckling and chewing independent systems? Electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded in rat pups of ages 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 days from the superficial masseter, anterior digastric, sternohyoideus, and genioglossus muscles during suckling and chewing. The EMG patterns of the 3 components of suckling behavior (nipple attachment, rhythmic sucking and the stretch response) are distinctive from one another and reflect the musculoskeletal biomechanics of suckling. Chewing EMGs are present by 12 days of age and attain the adult pattern by 18-21 days of age. During nipple attachment, pups exhibit a motor pattern that is similar to that of adult chewing, but other aspects of suckling differ from chewing in some EMG features. Comparison of EMGs between behaviors and between ages allowed interpretation of the degree of contunity of muscular activity across the suckling-to-chewing transition.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Behavioral neuroscience

DOI

EISSN

1939-0084

ISSN

0735-7044

Publication Date

June 1992

Volume

106

Issue

3

Start / End Page

539 / 554

Related Subject Headings

  • Sucking Behavior
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Reflex, Stretch
  • Rats
  • Neck Muscles
  • Masticatory Muscles
  • Mastication
  • Electromyography
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
 

Citation

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MLA
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Westneat, M. W., & Hall, W. G. (1992). Ontogeny of feeding motor patterns in infant rats: an electromyographic analysis of suckling and chewing. Behavioral Neuroscience, 106(3), 539–554. https://doi.org/10.1037//0735-7044.106.3.539
Westneat, M. W., and W. G. Hall. “Ontogeny of feeding motor patterns in infant rats: an electromyographic analysis of suckling and chewing.Behavioral Neuroscience 106, no. 3 (June 1992): 539–54. https://doi.org/10.1037//0735-7044.106.3.539.
Westneat MW, Hall WG. Ontogeny of feeding motor patterns in infant rats: an electromyographic analysis of suckling and chewing. Behavioral neuroscience. 1992 Jun;106(3):539–54.
Westneat, M. W., and W. G. Hall. “Ontogeny of feeding motor patterns in infant rats: an electromyographic analysis of suckling and chewing.Behavioral Neuroscience, vol. 106, no. 3, June 1992, pp. 539–54. Epmc, doi:10.1037//0735-7044.106.3.539.
Westneat MW, Hall WG. Ontogeny of feeding motor patterns in infant rats: an electromyographic analysis of suckling and chewing. Behavioral neuroscience. 1992 Jun;106(3):539–554.

Published In

Behavioral neuroscience

DOI

EISSN

1939-0084

ISSN

0735-7044

Publication Date

June 1992

Volume

106

Issue

3

Start / End Page

539 / 554

Related Subject Headings

  • Sucking Behavior
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Reflex, Stretch
  • Rats
  • Neck Muscles
  • Masticatory Muscles
  • Mastication
  • Electromyography
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology