Effects of contralateral electroacupuncture on brain function: a double-blind, randomized, pilot clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to ascertain the effects of contralateral acupuncture on brain function using blind-spot mapping.


METHODS
Forty (40) healthy volunteers in whom the right-side blind spot was larger than the left-side one-which indicates lower left-brain function-were randomly assigned into the following two groups in which electroacupuncture was applied to: (1) the contralateral ST36 acupuncture point (right side), and (2) the ipsilateral ST36 acupuncture point (left side).


METHODS
Blind-spot perimetry length was the outcome measure.


RESULTS
Electroacupuncture to the contralateral side decreased the blind-spot perimetry length by 5.0 (-9.3 to 0.9) [median (interquartile range, IQR)], whereas that to the ipsilateral side increased the length by 4.5 (-3.7 to 7.8) [median, IQR]. There was significant difference in this length between the two groups (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that electroacupuncture application increased or decreased the brain function- as assessed by changes to the blind spot-depending on the treatment side: Contralateral-side treatment has a better effect than ipsilateral-side treatment on brain function. However, further randomized studies that include both right- and left-side-enlarged subjects with a sham needle are needed to convincingly show the effects of contralateral acupuncture on brain function.
Woo
Young-Min
YM
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, National Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Myeong Soo
MS
Nam
Young
Y
Cho
Hye-Jin
HJ
Shin
Byung-Cheul
BC
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012016:Reference Values