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Re: Gaging during dental treatment
- To: Multiple recipients of list CLIN_NEUROPHYSIOL <CLIN_NEUROPHYSIOL@LISTSERV.UMU.SE>
- Subject: Re: Gaging during dental treatment
- From: Stavros Zanos <stavrosz@MED.AUTH.GR>
- Date: Tue, 23 Sep 1997 14:11:45 +0300
- Organization: Medical School of Thessaloniki
- References: <Chameleon.970923061729.crosley@>
- Reply-To: Professional discussions of neurophysiology <CLIN_NEUROPHYSIOL@LISTSERV.UMU.SE>
- Sender: Professional discussions of neurophysiology <CLIN_NEUROPHYSIOL@LISTSERV.UMU.SE>
John Shaw wrote:
>I used to gag easily during dental treatment until a dentist
>friend said the answer is to grip something in the hand. It
>works. Does anyone have any idea as to the mechanism
>involved?
I suppose that something similar happens when a neurologist asks the
patient to perform the Jedrassik manipulation (which BTW involves hand
action). In general, most reflexes, have a cortical component. This can
be either stimulatory (like gagging) or inhibitory (tenton reflexes). By
changing the focus of one's system of attention, this cortical component
is suppresed.
--
Stavros Zanos
Dpt. of Experimental Physiology
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
540 06, Thessaloniki, GREECE
http://www.med.auth.gr/~stavrosz/index.htm