Figure 11. Force enhancement decays as the interpattern interval increases. A1–A3, Each neuron was first stimulated (5 Hz for B6 and B9, 2 Hz for B3; 2 s duration) to mimic a biting pattern. Then after a variable interval (i.e., 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 s), the neuron was stimulated (15 Hz for B6 and B9, 10 Hz for B3; 2 s duration; 3 s interstimulus interval) to mimic a subsequent swallowing pattern. Force enhancement was calculated by subtracting the initial force from the second force generated during the swallowing-like pattern. Then it was normalized by the maximum force enhancement that occurred at the shortest interpattern interval (i.e., 0.5 s). Values were reported as mean ± SD. B1–B3, Each neuron was first stimulated (15 Hz for B6 and B9, 10 Hz for B3; 2 s duration) to mimic a swallowing pattern. Then, after a variable interval (i.e., 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 s), the neuron was stimulated again to mimic a subsequent swallowing pattern. Force enhancement values were also normalized and reported as mean ± SD.