Neural specificity of acupuncture stimulation at pericardium 6: Evidence from an FMRI study

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the neural specificity of pericardium PC6, with the same meridian acupoint PC7 and a treatment-irrelevant acupoint GB37 as separate controls. Materials and Methods:Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the whole brain was performed in 36 healthy subjects receiving acupuncture at three acupoints, respectively: the study acupoint (PC6), and control acupoints (PC7 and GB37). A novel nonrepeated eventrelated (NRER) design paradigm was applied to separately detect neural activities related to different stages of acupuncture (needling manipulation and post-acupuncture rest epoch). Psychophysical responses (Deqi sensations) were also assessed.Results: Neuroimaging studies of PC6 presented extensive signal attenuations in the cerebrocerebellar and subcortical areas, whereas acupuncture at GB37 induced widespread signal potentiations. In addition, acupuncture at PC6, in comparison with stimulations at PC7 and GB37, selectively evoked neural responses of the insula, hypothalamus, and flocculonodular lobe of cerebellum (nodulus and uvula).Conclusion: These findings may provide preliminary evidence for specific involvements of the cerebellar-hypothalamus and insula following acupuncture at PC6, which underlies the autonomic regulation of vestibular functions. The predominantly time-prolonged deactivations in these areas may also serve the clinical efficacy of PC6 in producing a sedative or tranquilizing effect in antiemetic treatment.

Acupuncture as a Complementary Treatment for Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

“…With this study, the sedative effect observed in the clinic during acupuncture for nausea at the PC6 point is also shown in the laboratory (Bai et al, 2010). In our study, the HT7 and Liv3 points were used to increase the sedative effect of acupuncture at PC6.…”

Acupuntura na fibromialgia: um estudo randomizado‐controlado abordando a resposta imediata da dor

“…[6][7][8]13 Há várias teorias para explicar a analgesia consequente do tratamento com acupuntura. A teoria de Mackenzie preconiza que a estimulação sensorial por agulha provoca reaç ões funcionais aos músculos, vasos e ligamentos inervados pelo mesmo mielótomo.…”

Current applications of molecular imaging and luminescence-based techniques in traditional Chinese medicine

“…Basically, acupuncture stimulation of main acupoints around the body was investigated and evaluated by different molecular imaging modalities. These studies showed that different molecular imaging techniques played important roles in such investigations (Wu et al, 1999b;Litschera and Schikora, 2002;Siedentopf et al, 2002;Lee et al, 2003;Fang et al, 2004;Nakagoshi et al, 2005;Napadow et al, 2005;Yan et al, 2005;Schlunzen et al, 2007;Deng et al, 2008;Lin et al, 2008;Qin et al, 2008;Vas et al, 2008;Zhou and Jin, 2008;Harris et al, 2009;Ho et al, 2009;Kong et al, 2009;Lai et al, 2009;Liu et al, 2009;Sato et al, 2009;Bai et al, 2010;Hsieh et al, 2011).…”