Study Of Acupuncture Houxi (SI3),Zhongzhu (SJ3),Waiguan (SJ5) By Functional MRI (fMRI)

Brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a no hurt and precise location method used to research brain. In the article, we summed up the research progress of fMRI completely. And we observe the distribution of the activated cerebral regions after acupuncture stimulation of Houxi(SI3), Zhongzhu (SJ3) and Waiguan (SJ5) by using fMRI technique and research the mechanism of point and acupuncture.The research method is as follows: Objective: To observe the distribution of the activated cerebral regions after acupuncture stimulation of Houxi(SI3), Zhongzhu (SJ3), Waiguan (SJ5) by using fMRI technique. Methods: A total of 6 cases of volunteer healthy subjects were recruited for this study. Before and during manipulation of the needle, cerebral images were sampled separately using fMRI scanner and analyzed by using AFNI software. Results: During manipulation of the needle inserted in the unilateral Houxi(SI3), Zhongzhu (SJ3), Wauguan (SJ5), the highly--activated cerebral structures were cingulated gyrus, dorsal thalamus temporal gyrus, cerebellum, occipital gyrus, etc. Conclusion: The effect of acupuncture analgesia was probably produces by the interaction of multiple brain structures of functional connectivity rather than through the activation of a single brain region.