Fig. 1

a Group comparisons of tongue force variability (TFV) and mean applied tongue force (TF) between patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and normal controls (NL) during an isometric tongue protrusion task. Compared to NL, TFV was significantly increased in MS patients, whereas TF was significantly decreased in the latter group. b TFV in MS patients correlated with the overall disease burden as assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Bars express group mean values; the error bars indicate the SEM