Effect of acupuncture 'dose' on modulation of the default mode network of the brain.
Author: Lin YJ1, Kung YY1,2, Kuo WJ3,4, Niddam DM4,5, Chou CC4, Cheng CM4, Yeh TC4,5, Hsieh JC4,5, Chiu JH1,6
Affiliation:
1Institute of Traditional Medicine, school of medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
2Center for Traditional Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
3Institute of Neuroscience, school of medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
4Laboratory of Integrated Brain Research, Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
5Institute of Brain Science, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming, University, Taipei, Taiwan.
6Division of General Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Conference/Journal: Acupunct Med.
Date published: 2016 Oct 6
Other:
Pages: acupmed-2016-011071 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2016-011071. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 287
OBJECTIVE: Recent functional MRI (fMRI) studies show that brain activity, including the default mode network (DMN), can be modulated by acupuncture. Conventional means to enhance the neurophysiological 'dose' of acupuncture, including an increased number of needles and manual needle manipulation, are expected to enhance its physiological effects. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of both methods on brain activity.
METHODS: 58 healthy volunteers were randomly assigned into four groups that received single needle acupuncture (SNA, n=15) or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS, n=13) as active controls, or enhanced acupuncture by way of three needle acupuncture (TNA, n=17) or SNA plus manual stimulation (SNA+MS, n=13). Treatment-associated sensations were evaluated using a visual analogue scale. Central responses were recorded before, during, and after treatment at LI4 on the left hand using resting state fMRI.
RESULTS: TNA and SNA+MS induced DMN-insula activity and extensive DMN activity compared to SNA, despite comparable levels of de qi sensation. The TNA and SNA+MS groups exhibited a delayed and enhanced modulation of the DMN, which was not observed followed SNA and TENS. Furthermore, TNA increased precuneus activity and increased the DMN-related activity of the cuneus and left insula, while SNA+MS increased activity in the right insula.
CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that conventional methods to enhance the acupuncture dose induce different DMN modulatory effects. TNA induces the most extensive DMN modulation, compared with other methods. Conventional methods of enhancing the acupuncture dose could potentially be applied as a means of modulating brain activity.
Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.
KEYWORDS: ACUPUNCTURE; NEUROLOGY
PMID: 27841974 DOI: 10.1136/acupmed-2016-011071
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