Effects of Carbonation and Temperature on Voluntary Swallowing in Healthy Humans

We investigated how swallowing behaviors are affected by the temperature and carbonation of water in healthy humans. Twenty-nine healthy volunteers were instructed to drink as much natural water, carbonated water, or cider as they wanted, and we recorded the volume of solution swallowed and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the masseter and suprahyoid muscles. Sensory tests regarding the ease of holding the solution in the mouth and ease of...