title: Effects of acupressure, manual acupuncture and Laserneedle acupuncture on EEG bispectral index and spectral edge frequency in healthy volunteers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sensory (acupressure and acupuncture) and optical stimulation (Laserneedle acupuncture) on electroencephalographic bispectral index, spectral edge frequency and a verbal sedation score.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five healthy volunteers (mean age +/- SD: 25.5 +/- 4.0yr) were investigated during the awake state. The acupuncture point Yintang and a placebo control point were stimulated. The study was performed as a randomized, controlled and partly blinded cross-over trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bispectral index and spectral edge frequency values both decreased significantly (P < 0.001) during acupressure on Yintang to values of 62.9 (minimum 35) +/- 13.9 bispectral index and to 13.3 (minimum 2.9) +/- 8.1 Hz (spectral edge frequency right) and 13.8 (minimum 2.7) +/- 7.3 Hz (spectral edge frequency left), respectively. Bispectral index was also significantly (P < 0.05) affected by Laserneedle acupuncture and acupressure on the control point but the changes were not clinically relevant, 95.4 +/- 4 and 94.2 +/- 4.8, respectively. All interventions significantly (Yintang: P < 0.001; control point: P < 0.012) reduced verbal sedation score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study highlights the electroencephalographic similarities of acupressure induced sedation and general anaesthesia as assessed by bispectral index and spectral edge frequency.
authors.affiliation: University of Graz, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Research in Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Graz, Austria. gerhard.litscher@uni-graz.at
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Litscher
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure / Q000379:methods*; D026881:Acupuncture / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles