Present situation and prospects about application of microelectrode array in study on acupuncture efficacy

Abstract

As a component of traditional Chinese medical therapies, the therapeutic effects of acupuncture for some nervous system diseases have been proven by a large number of clinical and experimental studies. But, the electrophysiological techniques of the commonly used EEG and evoked potentials are still not sufficient to reveal the functional mechanism of acupuncture therapy. The recording technique of microelectrode array (MEA), a kind of electrophysiological technique originated from the overseas biological electrical signal monitoring technique, can be used to record multiple electrical signals of the nervous cells in vivo or in vitro, and maintain the accuracy and stability of the recorded information at the same time, which greatly enriches the means of electrophysiological study. This technique has been already applied in the basic study and clinical treatment abroad, but it is very seldom used in the study of acupuncture field. In order to guide the application of MEA in the research field of acupuncture science, a general survey about the application of MEA technique in vivo was done, and the present situation and prospects of the application of the technique in acupuncture science was briefly analyzed.