Neuroimaging Acupuncture effects on human Brain Activity

针灸是一种古老的疗法(有2500多年的历史)，起源于中国，在西方越来越受欢迎。然而，对其潜在的基本机制的科学研究相对较新且不完整。拟议项目的目的是确定针灸及其不同的治疗位置和刺激技术如何影响人类的大脑活动。我们将通过将全脑功能磁共振(FMRI)与心理物理、生理和基因分型研究相结合来实现这一点。许多经典穴位被认为具有多种调节功能和不同的临床效果。如果一个共同的神经底物具有这些多重功能，它将需要 可以调节多种生理和神经系统的神经回路。鉴于单胺类神经递质系统丰富的弥漫性投射神经，这些神经调节剂，特别是多巴胺，可能在针灸作用的早期发挥重要作用。我们的总体假设是，针灸将引起以调制为主的广泛的大脑反应。尤其是边缘系统，其丰富的多巴胺能神经支配将发挥核心作用。我们还将探索德气的中枢神经底物，德气是一种独特的针灸感觉，被认为是中国传统针灸临床疗效的关键。这个项目将与其他项目团队和神经解剖学合作 和生物统计学核心，以了解针灸作用的神经生物学，并促进这一古老的治疗技术发展为循证医学。

Acupuncture is an ancient (over 2500 years old) therapeutic practice that originated in China and is growing in popularity in the West. However, scientific research into its underlying basic mechanisms is relatively recent and incomplete. The purpose of the proposed Project is to determine how acupuncture, with its variable treatment locations and stimulation techniques, affects human brain activity. We will accomplish this by integrating whole brain functional MRI (fMRI) with psychophysical, physiological, and genotyping investigations. Many classical acupuncture points are proposed to have multiple regulatory functions and diverse clinical effects. If a common neural substrate subserves these multiple functions, it would require neural circuits that could modulate multiple physiological and neural systems. Given the rich diffusely projecting innervations of the monoamine neurotransmitter system, these neuromodulators, especially dopamine, may play an important early role in acupuncture action. Our overall hypothesis is that acupuncture will elicit a widespread brain response that is predominantly modulatory. The limbic system in particular, with its rich dopaminergic innervation, will play a central role. We will also explore the central neural substrate of deqi, a unique acupuncture sensation that is considered essential to clinical efficacy in traditional Chinese acupuncture. This Project will work with the other Project teams and the Neuroanatomy and Biostatistics Core to understand the neurobiology of acupuncture action and promote the development of this ancient healing technique into evidence-based medicine.