title: Functional magnetic resonance imaging detects activation of the visual association cortex during laser acupuncture of the foot in humans.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of laser acupuncture on cerebral activation. Using functional magnetic imaging (fMRI) cortical activations during laser acupuncture at the left foot (Bladder 67) and dummy acupuncture, were compared employing a block design in ten healthy male volunteers. All experiments were done on a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance scanner equipped with a circular polarized head coil. During laser acupuncture, we found activation in the cuneus corresponding to Brodmann Area (BA) 18 and the medial occipital gyrus (BA 19) of the ipsilateral visual cortex. Placebo stimulation did not show any activation. We could demonstrate that laser acupuncture of a specific acupoint, empirically related to ophthalmic disorders, leads to activation of visual brain areas, whereas placebo acupuncture does not. These results indicate that fMRI has the potential to elucidate effects of acupuncture on brain activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology II, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Siedentopf
authors.forename: Stefan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Golaszewski
authors.forename: Felix M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Mottaghy
authors.forename: Christian C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ruff
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Felber
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schlager
mesh_terms: D026881:Acupuncture; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*