Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is a specialized MRI scan that measures the changes in blood flow related to neural activity in the brain.
Background
Clinical studies suggest that acupuncture can stimulate saliva production and reduce xerostomia (dry mouth). We were interested in exploring the neuronal substrates involved in such responses.
Methods
In a randomized, sham acupuncture controlled, subject blinded trial, twenty healthy volunteers received true and sham acupuncture in random order. Cortical regions that were activated or deactivated during the interventions were evaluated by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Saliva production was also measured.
Results
Unilateral manual acupuncture stimulation at LI-2, a point commonly used in clinical practice to treat xerostomia, was associated with bilateral activation of the insula and adjacent operculum. Sham acupuncture at an adjacent site induced neither activation nor deactivation. True acupuncture induced more saliva production than sham acupuncture.
Conclusion
Acupuncture at LI-2 was associated with neuronal activations absent during sham acupuncture stimulation. Neuroimaging signal changes appear correlated to saliva production.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) changes and saliva production associated with acupuncture at LI-2 acupuncture point: a randomized controlled study
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2008 Jul 7;8:37. Open Access article.
Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Randomized Controlled Trial, Uncategorized
Dry Mouth, fMRI, LI-2, Xerostomia
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy. Can functional MRI be used to evaluate the effect of acupuncture stimulation on a specific acupoint such as LI-4 ?
Hypothalamus and Amygdala Response to Acupuncture Stimuli in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Pain. 2007 August; 130(3): 254–266.
Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Research Article
Acupoints, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, fMRI, LI-4
The amygdalae are part of the limbic system.
Background
Recently, increasing evidence has indicated that the primary acupuncture effects are mediated by the central nervous system. However, specific brain networks underpinning these effects remain unclear.
Results
In the present study using fMRI, we employed a within-condition interregional covariance analysis method to investigate functional connectivity of brain networks involved in acupuncture. The fMRI experiment was performed before, during and after acupuncture manipulations on healthy volunteers at an acupuncture point, which was previously implicated in a neural pathway for pain modulation. We first identified significant fMRI signal changes during acupuncture stimulation in the left amygdala, which was subsequently selected as a functional reference for connectivity analyses. Our results have demonstrated that there is a brain network associated with the amygdala during a resting condition. This network encompasses the brain structures that are implicated in both pain sensation and pain modulation. We also found that such a pain-related network could be modulated by both verum acupuncture and sham acupuncture. Furthermore, compared with a sham acupuncture, the verum acupuncture induced a higher level of correlations among the amygdala-associated network.
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that acupuncture may change this amygdala-specific brain network into a functional state that underlies pain perception and pain modulation.
FMRI connectivity analysis of acupuncture effects on an amygdala-associated brain network
Mol Pain. 2008 Nov 13;4:55. Open Access article.
Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Research Article
Amygdala, fMRI