Juan Xiao1, Hua Zhang1, Jing-Ling Chang2,3, Li Zhou1, Zhong-Jian Tan4, Hai-Zhen Zhong1, Dan Zhu1, Ying Gao1,5. 1. Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China. 2. Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China. ear6979@163.com. 3. Key Laboratory of Encephalopathy Treatment of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China. ear6979@163.com. 4. Department of Radiology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China. 5. Key Laboratory of Encephalopathy Treatment of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the specifificity of Tongli (HT 5) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) paired acupionts in aspects of Deqi sensation and brain activation patterns during electroacupuncture. METHODS: In this study, 15 healthy subjects were enrolled. All participants suffered two kinds of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) examinations randomly: Examination A receivedelectro-acupuncture (EA) at the bilateral Tongli (HT5) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) acupoints (ACU), and examination B received EA at bilateral non-acupoints (NAP). The subjects reported the feeling of Deqi at each examination later respectively. A multi-voxel pattern analysis method and Statistical Program for Social Sciences were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The ACU group (Exam A) reported fullness, heaviness, numbness, soreness and throbbing of signifificantly greater intensity than the NAP group (Exam B). In addition, there was no statistical signifificance between two groups in aching, tingling, deep pressure, sharp pain, dull pain, warmness and cold. Meanwhile, fMRI data revealed differences between two groups in discriminating accuracy of brain somatosensory cortex and language-related cortices. CONCLUSIONS: Needling HT 5 and GB 39 may modulate language function through a complex brain network, suggesting that it may be benefificial to the recovery of language function in patients with aphasia.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To explore the specifificity of Tongli (HT 5) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) paired acupionts in aspects of Deqi sensation and brain activation patterns during electroacupuncture. METHODS: In this study, 15 healthy subjects were enrolled. All participants suffered two kinds of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) examinations randomly: Examination A received electro-acupuncture (EA) at the bilateral Tongli (HT5) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) acupoints (ACU), and examination B received EA at bilateral non-acupoints (NAP). The subjects reported the feeling of Deqi at each examination later respectively. A multi-voxel pattern analysis method and Statistical Program for Social Sciences were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The ACU group (Exam A) reported fullness, heaviness, numbness, soreness and throbbing of signifificantly greater intensity than the NAP group (Exam B). In addition, there was no statistical signifificance between two groups in aching, tingling, deep pressure, sharp pain, dull pain, warmness and cold. Meanwhile, fMRI data revealed differences between two groups in discriminating accuracy of brain somatosensory cortex and language-related cortices. CONCLUSIONS: Needling HT 5 and GB 39 may modulate language function through a complex brain network, suggesting that it may be benefificial to the recovery of language function in patients with aphasia.