Resumo

BORINI, Cynthia Bicalho; DUARTE, Cláudia Lopes; AMORIM, Maise Mendonça  e  BERZIN, Fausto. Analysis of the influence of anxiety on the electromyographic signal. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2010, vol.58, n.2, pp. 225-230. ISSN 1981-8637.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the electromyographic activity of the superficial part of the masseter and anterior part of the temporal muscles in a non-experimental state of anxiety. Methods: The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure anxiety. METHODS: Sixteen volunteers without the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder were selected. The electromyography was done with a Myosystem Br 1^® (Datahominis Tecnologia Ltda.,Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil) electromyograph. Simultaneous bilateral mastication, habitual mastication and voluntary contraction in maximum intercuspation were performed on three different days, with an interval of one week between them. The variables activation time and maximum intensity were calculated to analyze the electrical activity of these muscles. RESULTS: The results showed a reverse association between the variable activation time and trait anxiety levels, and a direct association between the variable maximum intensity and trait anxiety levels, both in habitual mastication and simultaneous bilateral mastication. During habitual mastication, only the anterior part of the temporal muscle presented a direct relationship between the variable maximum intensity and state anxiety; and during simultaneous bilateral mastication, the variable activation time presented a reverse relationship for the same muscle. CONCLUSION: Trait and state anxiety can influence electromyographic records even in non-experimental situations.

Palavras-chave : anxiety; electromyography; masticatory muscles.