Effects Of Electroacupuncture On Cerebral Motor Function Activation Of Humans: A PET Study

Background PET used to observe the cerebral function widely is a good way to study the central mechanism of acupuncture treatment. However, we often used biochemical or anatomical test on the animals or electrophysiolo-gical test on human beings on the study of the mechanism of stroke treatment with acupuncture. There was no vivo observation. And besides, most researches were done without movment. At first, we observed cerebral function of the normal subjects during finger movements. Base on what we had done previously, we investigated the effects of acupuncture on cerebral motor function of stroke patients with PET.Methods (l)PET imaging of the cerebral function activation was performed twice in 6 normal subjects during finger movements . First time there was no electroacupuncture stimulation. Second time, 6 normal subjects were received electroacupuncture stimulation at Baihui (GV20) and left Qubin(GB7). (2)PET imaging of the cerebral function activation was performed three times in 6 stroke patients during finger movements. First time there was no electroacupuncture stimulation. Second time, stroke patients received electroacupuncture stimulation at Baihui (GV20) and right Qubin(GB7).After three weeks electroacupuncture treatment, stroke patients were given the third time PET. Talairach coordinates-transformedimaging data were averaged for a group analysis(p<0.05).Results (1) Bilateral lobulus parietalis superior and precuneus wereactivated. However ,the activation of left area in the brain was moresignificant. (2) a. bilateral MI, PMC, Lps and SMA in unaffectedhemisphere were activated by electroacupuncture. b. bilateral MI, Lps wereactivated after three weeks electroacupuncture treatment. c.otherareas were activated ,such as insula, putamen, cerebellum.Conclusion Acupuncture at Qunbin and Baihui activates structures aboutmovement in the bilateral cerebral hemisphere. It suggested thatacupuncture take part in the cerebral motor plasticity. The activation ofother areas suggested that brain plasticity should be a network andacupuncture participated in some of the sections in this course.