Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2011, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (9): 1639-1642.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2011.09.029

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Characteristic components and source localization of electroencephalogram signals evoked by magnetic stimulation at acupoints

Yu Hong-li, Xu Gui-zhi, Yang Shuo, Li Wen-wen, Xie Xue   

  1. Province-Ministry Joint Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin  300130, China
  • Received:2010-10-22 Revised:2010-12-22 Online:2011-02-26 Published:2011-02-26
  • About author:Yu Hong-li★, Master, Lecturer, Province-Ministry Joint Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China yhl009@tom.com
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 50877023*; the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, No. E2009000049*, E2008000053*; the Science & Technology Pillar Program of Hebei Province, No. 09276103D-4*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. Whether acupuncture analgesia has a physiological basis or other psychological effects has long been a focus of argument. Manual manipulation and electrical acupuncture manipulations are clinically used. There are few published on the electroencephalogram (EEG) changes during magnetic stimulation at an acupuncture site.
OBJECTIVE: EEG data in response to magnetic stimulation at Hegu (LI4) acupoint were measured to determine whether magnetic acupoint stimulation might modulate cortex function or not. The mechanism of analgesic effect induced by magnetic stimulation at acupoint was discussed.
METHODS: Eighteen healthy volunteers (13 male, 5 female) were chosen in this experiment, with consent obtained before the study. LI4 acupoint lying at right were selected. The distance between mock point and LI4 was 3 cm. The frequency of stimulation was 1 Hz, and the intensity was 1.76T. EEG data were recorded before, during and after stimulation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Evoked potential was recorded in F3, F1, FZ, F2, F4, FC3, FC1, FCZ, FC2, FC4 electrodes, at about 140-170 ms (P150) after acupoint stimulation. With regard to the location of P150 in the human brain, it was located to the contralateral anterior cingulated cortex (ACC). Previous research has shown that ACC was not only involved in cognition of pain, but also modulated by analgesics. The result suggests the potential mechanism of analgesic effect induced by magnetic stimulation at acupoint.

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