Influence of the TMJ position on limbic system activation - an fMRI study

This study investigated a model of brain activity in an altered occlusion, which entailed an alteration of the TMJ position in eight healthy subjects with the help of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The purpose of the study was to answer the question whether a specific spatial position of the mandibular condyles was related to an emotional and/ or neurological response. The occlusal changes/changes of TMJ position led to a marked increase in BOLD signals (blood oxygenation level dependency) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insula and amygdala in all subjects. These results indicate interdependence between occlusion, TMJ position, and the "emotion circuit" (limbic system) in the human brain. Keywords: brain activation emotion, functional magnetic resonance imaging, malocclusion