Spinal effects of acupuncture stimulation assessed by proton density-weighted functional magnetic resonance imaging at 0.2 T.
Signal changes can be detected by proton density-weighted functional imaging in both the brain and the spinal cord. These are attributed to changes in extravascular water proton (signal enhancement by extravascular protons) density during neuronal activation. In this study, we used this technique to detect correlations between acupoint stimulation and neural activity in the spinal cord. Stimulation of acupoints associated with treatment of sensorimotor deficits (LI4 and LI11) was performed on 11 volunteers. During stimulation, 8 of the 11 subjects had consistent functional activations in C6/C7. A bilateral activation pattern was common. Our findings show that acupoint stimulation modulates activity in the spinal cord.
Li
Geng
G
The Jockey Club MRI Center, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Ng
Man Cheuk
MC
Wong
Kelvin K
KK
Luk
Keith D
KD
Yang
Edward S
ES
D026881:Acupuncture; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011522:Protons; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology
D011522:Protons