Abstract
To identify physical and sensory responses to acupuncture point stimulation (APS), nonacupuncture point stimulation (NAPS) and no stimulation (NS), changes in the high-frequency power spectrum before and after stimulation were evaluated with electroencephalography (EEG). A total of 37 healthy subjects received APS at the LI4 point, NAPS, or NS with their eyes closed. Background brain waves were measured before, during, and after stimulation using 8 channels. Changes in the power spectra of gamma waves and high beta waves before, during, and after stimulation were comparatively analyzed. After NAPS, absolute high beta power (AHBP), relative high beta power (RHBP), absolute gamma power (AGP), and relative gamma power (RGP) tended to increase in all channels. But no consistent notable changes were found for APS and NS. NAPS is believed to cause temporary reactions to stress, tension, and sensory responses of the human body, while APS responds stably compared to stimulation of other parts of the body.
Highlights
Acupuncture points are one of the most fundamental factors in the acupuncture theory of oriental medicine, along with meridian pulses
For nonacupuncture point stimulation (NAPS), absolute high beta power (AHBP) and relative high beta power (RHBP) increased in all channels during stimulation and tended to decrease after stimulation, with significant changes in AHBP in the C5, C1, and P3 channels and in RHBP in the F4, C5, C1, C2, C6, P3, and P4 channels
For no stimulation (NS), AHBP tended to increase after stimulation compared to before stimulation, whereas RHBP tended to increase during stimulation and decrease after stimulation, with significant changes in the P3 and P4 channels (Figure 2)
Summary
Acupuncture points are one of the most fundamental factors in the acupuncture theory of oriental medicine, along with meridian pulses. Efforts have long been made to understand the scientific mechanisms behind acupuncture point and meridian pulse functions. In addition to the direct characteristics of acupuncture points, several studies using bioimaging technology, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging, have evaluated the effects of the physical stimulation of acupuncture points on the human body. Among these technologies, EEG is widely used in clinical evaluation and diagnosis because it is cost effective and provides a simple method for measurement and analysis compared to other tools. Through diverse analyses of EEG data, we can indirectly analogize the neurological functions of human bodies or human responses
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