Abstract
The study of the mechanism of acupuncture action was revolutionized by the use of
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Over the past decade, our fMRI studies
of healthy subjects have contributed substantially to elucidating the central effect
of acupuncture on the human brain. These studies have shown that acupuncture stimulation,
when associated with sensations comprising deqi, evokes deactivation of a limbic–paralimbic–neocortical network, which encompasses
the limbic system, as well as activation of somatosensory brain regions. These networks
closely match the default mode network and the anti-correlated task-positive network
described in the literature. We have also shown that the effect of acupuncture on
the brain is integrated at multiple levels, down to the brainstem and cerebellum.
Our studies support the hypothesis that the effect of acupuncture on the brain goes
beyond the effect of attention on the default mode network or the somatosensory stimulation
of acupuncture needling. The amygdala and hypothalamus, in particular, show decreased
activation during acupuncture stimulation that is not commonly associated with default
mode network activity. At the same time, our research shows that acupuncture stimulation
needs to be done carefully, limiting stimulation when the resulting sensations are
very strong or when sharp pain is elicited. When acupuncture induced sharp pain, our
studies show that the deactivation was attenuated or reversed in direction. Our results
suggest that acupuncture mobilizes the functionally anti-correlated networks of the
brain to mediate its actions, and that the effect is dependent on the psychophysical
response. In this work we also discuss multiple avenues of future research, including
the role of neurotransmitters, the effect of different acupuncture techniques, and
the potential clinical application of our research findings to disease states including
chronic pain, major depression, schizophrenia, autism, and Alzheimer's disease.
Keywords
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