Electroencephalographic Responses to Laserneedle and Punctual Stimulation Quantified by Bispectral (BIS) Monitoring: A Pilot Study to Evaluate Methods and Instrumentation

Abstract

Laserneedle is a new optical stimulation method. Electrical punctual stimulation (P-Stim) also represents a new stimulation method in body and auricular acupuncture. Whereas laserneedle stimulation has been extensively investigated within scientific literature, only few studies exist in referenced journals regarding P-Stim. Fifteen healthy volunteers (mean age ± SD: 29.1 ± 2.8 years; range: 24 33 years) were examined in a randomized cross-over study using two different acupuncture schemes, including a placebo stimulation. The EEG-bispectral index (BIS), heart rate (HR) and non-invasive measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) were evaluated before, during and after stimulation of sedating acupoints and conditions of placebo. During optical (I) and electrical (II) activation significant (p < 0.05; ANOVA, Tukey test) stimulation induced reductions in BIS-values occurred, however, the combination of both methods (III) and placebo stimulation (IV) resulted in insignificant changes of BIS values. HR and MAP did not show any significant changes during all stimulation procedures (I IV). Laserneedleas well as punctual stimulation of sedating acupoints led to significant changes in bioelectric brain activity. However, the response patterns were different and the combination of both methods did not intensify the effects quantified by BIS values. These neuro-modulating effects require further investigation in a larger population sample.