Acupuncture modulates temporal neural responses in wide brain networks: evidence from fMRI study
Acupuncture modulates temporal neural responses in wide brain networks: evidence from fMRI study
复制标题
针灸调节广泛大脑网络中的时间神经反应：来自功能磁共振成像研究的证据
DOI：
10.1186/1744-8069-6-73
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发表时间：
2010-11-02
期刊：
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Liu, Yijun
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Bai, Lijun;Tian, Jie;Liu, Yijun
研究背景对人类神经影像学的研究表明，针灸可以调节广泛分布的脑网络，其中大部分与疼痛相关区域重叠。近年来，针刺镇痛的一个显著特点是其持续时间长，即起效延迟，在针刺结束后仍逐渐达到高峰。因此，识别这些区域在特定时间发生的时间神经反应-针灸过程中的急性和持续效应-可能有助于了解这些外周输入如何通过CNS进行和介导。在本研究中，我们采用了非重复事件相关（NRER）的功能磁共振成像范式和控制理论为基础的方法，即变点分析，以捕捉详细的时间轮廓的神经反应引起的针灸ResultsOur研究结果表明，神经活动在不同阶段的针灸呈现不同的时间模式，其中，针刺期的神经活动表现为持续的正性反应，而针刺后的神经活动则更为复杂和动态。这些脑反应具有明显的时间依赖性，表现出不同的神经活动的起始时间和持续时间。杏仁核和膝周前扣带皮层（pACC）在针刺阶段表现出增加的活动，而逐渐下降，达到低于基线的峰值。中脑导水管周围灰质（PAG）和下丘脑在整个fMRI过程中表现出明显的间歇性激活。除了依赖于时间的反应，相对持久的活动也被确定在前额叶皮层和前额叶皮层。总体研究结果表明，针灸可能从事不同的时间神经反应作为时间的函数在广泛的brainnetwork.ConclusionsOur研究提供了证据支持一种观点，即针灸干预涉及复杂的调制的时间神经反应，其效果可以逐步解决作为时间的函数。针刺足三里穴的功能特异性可能涉及广泛的脑网络的多个水平的差异活动，即使在针刺结束后，这些差异活动也逐渐增强。
BackgroundAccumulating neuroimaging studies in humans have shown that acupuncture can modulate a widely distributed brain network, large portions of which are overlapped with the pain-related areas. Recently, a striking feature of acupuncture-induced analgesia is found to be associated with its long-last effect, which has a delayed onset and gradually reaches a peak even after acupuncture needling being terminated. Identifying temporal neural responses in these areas that occur at particular time – both acute and sustained effects during acupuncture processes – may therefore shed lights on how such peripheral inputs are conducted and mediated through the CNS. In the present study, we adopted a non-repeated event-related (NRER) fMRI paradigm and control theory based approach namely change-point analysis in order to capture the detailed temporal profile of neural responses induced by acupuncture.ResultsOur findings demonstrated that neural activities at the different stages of acupuncture presented distinct temporal patterns, in which consistently positive neural responses were found during the period of acupuncture needling while much more complex and dynamic activities found during a post-acupuncture period. These brain responses had a significant time-dependent effect which showed different onset time and duration of neural activities. The amygdala and perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC), exhibited increased activities during the needling phase while decreased gradually to reach a peak below the baseline. The periaqueductal gray (PAG) and hypothalamus presented saliently intermittent activations across the whole fMRI session. Apart from the time-dependent responses, relatively persistent activities were also identified in the anterior insula and prefrontal cortices. The overall findings indicate that acupuncture may engage differential temporal neural responses as a function of time in a wide range of brain networks.ConclusionsOur study has provided evidence supporting a view that acupuncture intervention involves complex modulations of temporal neural response, and its effect can gradually resolve as a function of time. The functional specificity of acupuncture at ST36 may involve multiple levels of differential activities of a wide range of brain networks, which are gradually enhanced even after acupuncture needle being terminated.