Data_Sheet_1_A Temporospatial Study of Sympathetic Skin Response and Electroencephalogram in Oral Mucosa Thermal Perception.docx

ObjectiveTo investigate the temporospatial changes in sympathetic skin response (SSR) and electroencephalogram (EEG) under thermal stimuli and to draw a topographic map of SSR threshold temperature of the oral mucosa.
Materials and MethodsA total of 40 healthy volunteers (24 men, 16 women, mean age of 23 ± 3) were enrolled. Thermal stimuli were applied to the 35 partitions of oral mucosa starting from 36°C at the gradience of 1°C and the lowest temperature evoked SSR was defined as SSR threshold temperature. SSR and EEG signals at 45, 48, 51, and 54°C were then recorded synchronously.
ResultsThe SSR threshold temperature increased from the anterior areas to the posterior areas. No significant difference between bilateral corresponding areas or between genders was observed. The SSR amplitude value increased from 45 to 54°C in the same area, while the highest value was recorded on the tip of the tongue and decreased backwardly from the anterior area. There were significant differences in latency of SSR between the tip of the tongue and the molar areas of the oral cavity (p < 0.05). Reduction in the alpha frequency band was observed after thermal stimuli, and there were statistical differences between baseline and thermal stimuli in all four degrees of temperatures (p < 0.05).
ConclusionThe result of the experiment revealed that the autonomic and central nervous system (CNS) played important roles in thermal perception of oral mucosa and could be helpful for better understanding of pathological mechanism of burning mouth syndrome (BMS).

研究目的
本研究旨在探究热刺激下交感皮肤反应（sympathetic skin response, SSR）与脑电图（electroencephalogram, EEG）的时空变化特征，并绘制口腔黏膜SSR阈值温度的地形图。

材料与方法
共纳入40名健康志愿者（男24名，女16名，平均年龄23±3岁）。以1℃为温度梯度，从36℃开始对口腔黏膜的35个分区施加热刺激，将最低可诱发SSR的温度定义为SSR阈值温度。随后同步记录45℃、48℃、51℃及54℃条件下的SSR与EEG信号。

结果
口腔黏膜的SSR阈值温度从前庭区域向后庭区域逐渐升高。双侧对应区域间以及不同性别间均未观察到显著统计学差异。同一区域内，SSR幅值随温度从45℃升至54℃逐渐增大；其中舌尖区的SSR幅值最高，且从前庭区域向后依次递减。舌尖区与口腔磨牙区的SSR潜伏期存在显著差异（p < 0.05）。热刺激后，脑电图α频段出现功率降低现象，四种温度刺激下的脑电图结果与基线水平相比均存在统计学差异（p < 0.05）。

结论
本实验结果表明，自主神经系统与中枢神经系统（central nervous system, CNS）在口腔黏膜热感知过程中发挥了重要作用，该研究可为进一步阐明灼口综合征（burning mouth syndrome, BMS）的病理机制提供参考。