title: [Application of cerebral function imaging in research on the acupoints specificity].
abstract: To explore the effect of cerebral function imaging in research on the acupoints specificity. Relevant literatures are retrieved and their results are compared. The results reveals as the follows: (1) Acupuncture can ameliorate cerebral blood flow hypoperfusion in patients with cerebrovascular disease, which maybe one of the mechanisms of acupuncture effect; (2) Acupuncture treatment has selectivity regulation role, which is related to the state of body and brain; (3) Cerebral function imaging can draw a clear distinction between therapeutic effect and placebo effect of acupuncture; (4) The points have specificity on the brain activation, but the outcomes are not exactly the same under different experimental conditions. Cerebral function imaging can be used to exploring acupoints specificity. Due to many interference factors which influence the accuracy of experiment, the subsequent experimental design have to be improved in the days ahead so as to make the results more cogent and rigorous.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011859:Radiography