Voluntary Swallowing Initiation Difficulty After Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex Damage: A Case Report

The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex plays a critical role in movement initiation, and damage to this area can impair this function. Here we present the case of an individual who had difficulty with voluntary initiation of liquid swallowing after surgical removal of a glioblastoma from the right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. This individual had no difficulty swallowing solids, perhaps because of the additional external movement triggers (eg, chewing) involved. Liquid swallowing involves fewer movement triggers and requires a quicker application of force during the oral propulsive phase when liquids are transferred from the oral cavity to the oropharynx. This individual did not have buccofacial apraxia or apraxia of speech, which are often associated with swallowing apraxia linked to damage in the precentral, premotor, and inferior frontal gyri. To our knowledge, few studies have focused on movement initiation impairments affecting the upper extremities and speech, and cases involving swallowing are notably rare.