MRI cerebral function imaging following acupuncture at Hegu, Zusanli, Neiguan and Sanyinjiao points
Abstract

AIM：To investigate the changes of functional MRI (fMRI) cerebral functional imaging after acupuncture on different acupoints in the same subjects.

METHODS：The experiment was carried out in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from October 2004 to June 2006. Eleven healthy right-handed volunteers participated in the experiment. The experiment adopted multiple block design, including rest state and stimulation state. Acupuncture stimulation was induced to each subject for four times at the acupoints of right Hegu (LI 14), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) in order. The fMRI scanning was performed using Philips Intera 1.5T superconducting scanner. The interval time was 15 minutes between two acupuncture stimulations. The fMRI data were analyzed using statistical parameter mapping. Specific brain activation area by stimulation was accessed using t test, P < 0.01 as element.

RESULT: All 11 subjects were included in the result analysis.①The brain activation areas during Hegu (LI 14) were showed on bilateral middle frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus and ipsilateral precuneus, operculum insula, and contralateral lingual gyrus, insula, inferior parietal lobule.②The brain activation areas during Neiguan (PC 6) were showed on bilateral middle frontal gyrus, caudate nucleus, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, cingulate gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus and contralateral operculum insulae, supramarginal gyrus, hypothalamus, and inferior parietal lobule.③The brain activation areas during Zusanli (ST 36) were showed on bilateral middle temporal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus and ipsilateral insular lobe, superior occiptal gyrus and contralateral precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, operculum insulae, angular gyrus.④The brain activation areas during Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were showed on bilateral middle temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, postcentral gyrus and ipsilateral superior parietal lobule, insular lobe and contralateral precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, inferior parietal lobule.

CONCLUSION:Acupuncturing on different acupoints can active similar brain areas in the same subject. Acupuncturing on the same acupoint can active different brain areas in different subjects. The effects of acupuncture are realized not just by activating only one cerebral functional cortex, but by activating many cerebral functional cortexes, which constitute a complex functional network and act with each other.

Zhang R, Zou YQ, Huang SQ, Chen ZG, Liang BL, Li Y, Zhong JL.MRI cerebral function imaging following acupuncture at Hegu, Zusanli, Neiguan and Sanyinjiao points.Zhongguo Zuzhi Gongcheng Yanjiu yu Linchuang Kangfu 2007;11(22):4271-4274(China)
[www.zglckf.com/zglckf/ejournal/upfiles/07-22/22k-4271(ps).pdf]

摘要
目的：利用功能磁共振技术观察针刺不同经脉的两组穴位后，人脑运动功能区的活动情况。
方法：试验于2004－10/2006－06在中山大学附属第二医院进行。选取健康右利手志愿者11名，均为医学院学生。试验采用多组块设计，包括静息期和针刺期。每个受试者接受4次针刺，针刺穴位依次取右侧合谷、内关、三阴交、足三里穴，针刺同时采用荷兰飞利浦公司生产的Philips Intera 1.5T超导型 MR扫描仪进行功能磁共振扫描，两穴位刺激成像的间隔时间为15 min。采用统计参数图进行数据统计学分析，用t检验分析，P < 0.01的象素构成针刺激活的特异性脑区图。
结果：11名受试者均进入结果分析。①针刺合谷穴引起平均信号强度升高脑区主要为双侧额中回，中央前后回、颞中上回，同侧楔前叶、岛盖以及对侧舌回、脑岛、顶下小叶。②针刺内关穴引起平均信号强度升高脑区主要为双侧额中回、尾状核、中央前后回、扣带回、颞中上回及对侧岛盖、缘上回、下丘脑、顶下小叶。③针刺足三里穴引起平均信号强度升高脑区主要为双侧颞中回、额中上回，同侧岛叶、枕上回以及对侧中央前后回、岛盖、角回。④针刺三阴交穴引起平均信号强度升高脑区主要为双侧颞中回、额下回、中央后回，同侧顶上小叶、岛叶及对侧中央前后回、顶下小叶。
结论：在同一受试者，针刺不同穴位可引起相同部位脑功能区激活，不同人针刺相同穴位激活的脑功能区有一定差异，针刺效果可能并非通过单一脑功能区，而是通过有功能联系的多个脑功能区所形成的一个复杂的流动性网络的相互作用而实现的。
关键词：功能磁共振；针刺；脑

张嵘，邹燕琴，黄穗乔，陈志光，梁碧玲，李勇，钟镜联.脑功能磁共振成像在针刺合谷、足三里与内关、三阴交穴位后的影像学特征变化比较[J].中国组织工程研究与临床康复，2007，11(22):4271-4274 [www.zglckf.com/zglckf/ejournal/upfiles/07-22/22k-4271(ps).pdf]