Tongue News and Research

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Specialized neurons help the brain detect where words begin and end

Why is it so easy to hear individual words in your native language, but in a foreign language they run together in one long stream of sound?

21 Nov 2025

Cancer stole her voice. She used AI, curse words, and kids’ books to get it back.

When doctors told her they had to remove her tongue and voice box to save her life from the cancer that had invaded her mouth, Sonya Sotinsky sat down with a microphone to record herself saying the things she would never again be able to say.

21 Nov 2025

Discovering the role of lingual and buccal cells in tooth development

A novel study on the natural coordination of tooth development in time and space, led by Dr. Han-Sung Jung at the Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Korea, has discovered that "lingual" cells on the side of the tongue form the tooth, whereas those toward the cheek, called "buccal cells," form the bones and gums, guided by signaling molecules like WNT and BMP.

24 Oct 2025

Slow speech improves rhythm control in people with ALS

Speech rhythm, a key attribute of natural languages that directly influences the effectiveness and efficiency of communication, is often compromised in people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS.

10 Oct 2025

Cops on ketamine? Largely unregulated mental health treatment faces hurdles

A few months ago, Waynesville Police Sgt. Paige Shell was about to give up hope of getting better. The daily drip of violence, death, and misery from almost 20 years in law enforcement had left a mark. Her sleep was poor, depression was a stubborn companion, and thoughts of suicide had taken root.

10 Oct 2025

Taste-based flu test that detects infection within minutes

Researchers examine the effectiveness of a novel taste-based sensor for the early detection of influenza infection.

8 Oct 2025

New molecular sensor for taste-based detection of influenza

Flu season is fast approaching in the northern hemisphere. And a taste-based influenza test could someday have you swapping nasal swabs for chewing gum.

2 Oct 2025

Ozone exposure weakens lung function and reshapes the oral microbiome

Ozone exposure reshapes the oral microbiome and reduces lung function, particularly in men, revealing significant health risks associated with pollution.

1 Oct 2025

Intranasal adrenaline can be as effective as the EpiPen

Instead of stabbing yourself, or someone else, in the thigh with a needle to deliver a dose of adrenaline to counter anaphylactic shock, would it not be easier to use a nasal spray instead?

30 Sep 2025

Do tongue piercings harm your oral health? Evidence points to yes

Researchers reviewed 19 studies on tongue piercings and found they carry significant oral health risks, including fractures, gum recession, infections, and rare systemic complications. The evidence base is limited but highlights the need for clinician vigilance and patient awareness.

21 Sep 2025

CRISPR-based tongue swab test shows promise for tuberculosis detection

Tulane University researchers have developed an enhanced CRISPR-based tuberculosis test that works with a simple tongue swab, a potential breakthrough that could allow easier, community-based screenings for the world's deadliest infectious disease.

17 Sep 2025

Biofeedback improves speech in children at a faster rate than traditional methods

Run. Red. World. Pronouncing the "r" sound in these words requires precise control of the tongue. For most children, this happens naturally, but many children struggle with residual speech sound disorder (RSSD) in which speech errors persist past the age of eight.

9 Sep 2025

Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure in older adults by reshaping oral bacteria

Dietary nitrate from beetroot juice lowered blood pressure in older adults but not in younger participants in a double-blind crossover trial. The effect was linked to oral microbiome changes, including reduced Prevotella and higher plasma nitrite, without improvements in endothelial function

2 Sep 2025

Can oral bacteria make heart disease worse?

The presence of viridans streptococci in coronary plaques indicates a role in atherosclerosis, potentially influencing heart disease outcomes.

1 Sep 2025

New AI model detects early neurological disorders through speech

Recently, the research team led by Prof. Li Hai at the Institute of Health and Medical Technology, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed a novel deep learning framework that significantly improves the accuracy and interpretability of detecting neurological disorders through speech.

29 Aug 2025