Brain Evoked Potentials under Magnetic Stimulation at Acupuncture Point and at Mock Point

Abstract

Magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive technique. Acupuncture point (acupoint) is a specific point in human body with high sensitivity to acupuncture treatment. In this paper, magnetic stimulation was used to stimulate Neiguan (PC6) acupoint and a mock point. 64-channel EEG signals in three stages (before, during and after magnetic stimulation) were recorded to determine the difference of effects between magnetic stimulation at PC6 acupoint and at mock point. The results showed that brain evoked potential component P300 was extracted during magnetic stimulation at PC6 acupoint, while it was not extracted during magnetic stimulation at the mock point. P300 was located at hippocampus of brain. It suggested that P300 was specific to magnetic stimulation at PC6 acupoint, and magnetic stimulation at PC6 acupoint could possess more complicated brain activities than that at mock point.