The effect of emotional arousal on spontaneous swallowing rates.

The effect of two experimental tasks aimed at inducing emotional arousal on spontaneous swallowing rates was investigated. An anxiety-inducing cognitive task and a Velten-type depression-inducing manipulation were both found to increase spontaneous swallowing rates in normal subjects. This confirmed previous anecdotal reports of elevated swallowing rates associated with emotional arousal. The implication of this finding for a possible pathway between emotional factors and gastrointestinal disorders is discussed.