FUNCTIONAL MRI OF REAL AND SHAM ACUPUNCTURE

描述（申请人的摘要）：在这个项目中，我们建议调查 大脑对针灸的反应，一种古老的东方医学方法， 使用现代神经成像技术。领域的最新发展 功能性神经成像使我们能够非侵入性地测量血氧 对刺激的反应。MR信号的变化与 可以使用适当的统计模型来检测和定位大脑 activation.因此，可以测量大脑的反应， 针灸和确定参与这一过程的解剖中心。我们 视觉和听觉穴位刺激的初步数据 表明相关皮质的激活增加。 该项目的总体目标是1）验证和表征 功能性磁共振在脑穿刺激活中的应用 成像，2）表征大脑对不同类型假手术的反应 与真实的穴位相比。 针灸在西方社会越来越受欢迎， 据报道，1500万美国人接受了 [芝加哥论坛报，1999年2月11日]。世界卫生 组织报告说，大约有10,000个针灸 美国的专家们，估计有3，000名执业的针灸师 医生1993年，食品和药物管理局报告说， 每年在针灸治疗上花费5亿美元。然而，A 对所涉及的神经解剖学中心的科学理解和方法 治疗将是必要的，以广泛的医疗接受， 针灸此外，由于功能性磁共振成像是一种 一种用于可视化皮层激活的非侵入性全脑方法， 更清楚地了解与针灸相关的神经基质， 可能会为针灸治疗提供相当多的见解。

DESCRIPTION (Applicant's Abstract): In this project, we propose to investigate the brain's response to acupuncture, an ancient Eastern medical method, by using a modern neuroimaging technology. Recent developments in the field of functional neuroimaging enable us to noninvasively measure blood oxygenation changes in response to a stimulus. The MR signal changes in conjunction with an appropriate statistical model can be used to detect and localize brain activation. Therefore, it is possible to measure the brain's response to acupuncture and identify the anatomic centers involved in this process. Our preliminary data of visual and auditory acupuncture point stimulation demonstrates increased activation in the associated cortices. The overall goals of this project are 1) to validate and characterize acupuncture-induced brain activation using functional magnetic resonance imaging, 2) to characterize the brain's response to different types of sham acupuncture points compared to real acupuncture points. Acupuncture is becoming more popular in Western society for medical treatment, as evidenced by the 15 million Americans who have reported treatment with acupuncture in the last year [Chicago Tribune, 2/ 11/99]. The World Health Organization reports that there are approximately 10,000 acupuncture specialists in the U.S., and an estimated 3,000 practicing acupuncturists are physicians. In 1993 the Food and Drug Administration reported that Americans were spending $500 million per year on acupuncture treatment. Nevertheless, a scientific understanding of the neuroanatomical centers involved and the method of treatment will be necessary for the widespread medical acceptance of acupuncture. In addition, since functional magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive, whole brain method used to visualize cortical activation, a clearer understanding of the neural substrate associated with acupuncture is likely to provide considerable insights into acupuncture treatment.