title: Modulation of pain signal processing by electric acupoint stimulation: an electroencephalogram study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the analgesia-related modulation of electroencephalographic activities by transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation (EAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 15 healthy human beings, 64-channel electroencephalogram was recorded and power spectrum analysis was employed before, during and after EAS. Non-acupoint electric stimulation was used as control. All subjects were asked to rate their sensation to painful stimulations before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relative theta power near contra-lateral centro-parietal area during EAS was negatively correlated with the pain score after EAS. Similarly, the beta activity during EAS near contra-lateral prefrontal cortex, ipsi-lateral inferior frontal and temporal lobe, and ipsi-lateral occipito-parietal cortex, were all negatively correlated with pain score after EAS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These changes might reflect a modulation of brain activity by EAS in specific areas, which were in turn involved in modulation of certain aspects of pain-signal processing.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Weiting
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yingwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jingyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jisheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*