Experimental FMRI Study Of The Human Brain Responses To Electroacupuncture

Objective To evaluate the correlation between the activation of associated brain cortices induced by electroacupuncture and analgesia of LI4 (Hegu) using functional MRI.Methods Electroacupuncture stimulation was induced by needle at the acupuncture point, large intestine 4 (LI4) on the right hand of 9 healthy subjects. A block-design paradigm was applied. The brain responses to Li4 were analyzed using SPM tools.Results The data sets from 7 of 9 subjects were used in the study. Signal increase and decreases were demonstrated in the multiple brain regions. Signal increases occurred in left premotor cortex (PMC), left supramarginal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus, hippocampus and amygdaloid body, midline nuclears group, bilateral premotor cortexes, temporal poles and cerebellum. It also produced prominent decreases of signals in left inferior temporal gyrus, angular gyrus, bilateral prefrontal cortex and parahippocampal gyrus. Moreover, the brain areas, including cingulate cortex, precutaneous lobes and occipital lobes, represented signal increase or decrease at different inner regions.Conclusion The change of activation at limbic system and the areas associated with motor function using fMRI through electroacupuncture stimulation at LI4 was closely correlated with its therapeutic effects Objective To evaluate the correlation between the activation of associated brain cortices induced by electroacupuncture and therapeutic effect of SP9 (Yinglinquan) using functional MRI.Methods Electroacupuncture stimulation was induced by needle at the acupuncture point, spleen 9 on the right hand of 6 healthy subjects. A block-design paradigm was applied. Functional responses were established by SPM analysis.Results The data sets from 5 of 6 subjects were used in the study. Singnal increase and decreases were demonstrated in fewer brain regions than the counterpart in Experiment I. Singnal increases occurred in right occipital lobe, right hippocampal gyrus, bilateral secondary somatic sensory areas. It also produced prominent decreases of signals in bilateral inferior temporal gyrus. Moreover, the brain areas, including bilateral prefrontal lobes and precuneus lobes, represented singnal increase or decrease at different inner regions.Conclusion Using fMRI through electroacupuncture stimulation at SP9, we explored the change of activation at several brain areas without neuronal specificity of acupuncture response, which were proposed to have few correlations with its therapeutic effect. Objective To explore neural mechanism about differential clinic effects of Yin and Yang meridianMethods Compare Part I and II with the results of control group, which comprising 5 healthy subjects stimulated by electroacupuncture at right faces.Results Non-specific activation of brain regions included bilateral prefrontal lobes, occipital lobes, superior temporal gyrus and precuneus. Common activation induced by electroapuncture at Hegu and Yinlingquan was rare.Conclusion Differential clinic effects of Yin and Yang meridian may be based on differential center neural net system...