Efficacy of Tongue Stimulation in Neurorehabilitation– A Narrative Review

Abstract

Introduction: The tongue is being represented bilaterally in the motor homunculus of the brain. Tongue has
been used as an effective interface to send signals to central nervous system. The purpose of this article is to
review all articles related to tongue stimulation in neurological rehabilitation.
Method: All studies including case studies, cohort studies, experimental studies and reviews, which dealt
with tongue stimulation in neurological conditions during the period between 2010 and 2020, were included
in the study.
Results: Tongue Stimulation has been used effectively n rehabilitation for improving balance in patients
with vestibular disorders, multiple sclerosis patients, spinal cord injury patients and stroke patients. Tongue
Stimulation has also been used to improve motor recovery in stroke patients.
Conclusion: Tongue stimulation becomes a novel mode of stimulation in inducing neuroplasticity and can
be used in wide variety of neurological patients. Further researches needs to be done on the effect of tongue
stimulation on upper extremity rehabilitation in stroke patients.