Modulatory Effect of Acupuncture on Human Brain Activity

描述(申请人提供)：针灸正在成为补充医学中的一种重要手段。其作用机制尚不清楚。鉴于针刺对许多心理和生理功能的调节作用，我们假设它的作用是通过边缘系统及其在皮质和脑干中密切相关的结构来实现的，这是一个广泛连接的网络，参与了多个生理系统的情绪、行为和功能的调节。我们将使用功能强大的非侵入性功能磁共振成像技术(BOLD)来监测手针在正常人常用穴位的中枢效应。一项使用LI4的初步研究显示了可量化的、区域性的信号变化，表明对边缘、边缘旁和皮质下灰质结构的调制效应。在对照触觉刺激中没有观察到这种效果，并且与对疼痛的反应不同(Hu等人，00，01)。我们提出了一项新的研究，该研究将涵盖整个大脑，以证明皮质和脑干中与边缘相关的区域将以类似的方式做出反应。我们将比较不同经络的穴位(特定的穴位路径)和不同节段性神经支配的中枢效应，以确定边缘和躯体感觉区的区域特异性。此外，我们将使用一种针对脑干的特殊技术来检查下行抗伤害性感受通路的影响。这些研究旨在以成像神经科学为基础，对针灸的中枢效应进行研究，并将为了解这一古老的治疗技术的治疗潜力提供科学基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Acupuncture is emerging as an important modality in complementary medicine. Its mechanism of action remains unclear. Given the modulatory action of acupuncture on many mental and physiological functions, we hypothesize that its effects are mediated via the limbic system and its closely related structures in the cortex and brainstem, a widely connected network that is involved in the regulation of mood, behavior and functions of multiple physiological systems. We shall employ the powerful and noninvasive fMRI technique (BOLD) to monitor the central effects of manual acupuncture at commonly used acupuncture points on normal human subjects. An initial study using LI 4 on the hand demonstrated quantifiable and regionally specific signal changes that indicate modulatory effects on limbic, paralimbic and subcortical gray structures. The effects were not observed in control tactile stimulation and were distinct from response to pain (Hui et al, 00, 01). We propose a new study that will encompass the whole brain in order to demonstrate that limbic related regions in the cortex and brainstem will respond in a similar manner. We shall compare the central effects of acupuncture points of different meridians (specific routes of acupuncture points) and of different segmental innervations to determine the regional specificity of limbic and somatosensory areas. Furthermore, we shall use a special technique that targets the brainstem to examine effects on the descending antinociceptive pathway. The studies are aimed at the beginning of imaging neuroscience-based investigation of the central effects of acupuncture and will provide a scientific basis for the understanding of the therapeutic potentials of this ancient healing technique.