title: Differential neural responses to acupuncture revealed by MEG using wavelet-based time-frequency analysis: a pilot study.
abstract: Acupoint specificity, lying at the core of the Traditional Chinese Medicine, still faces many controversies. As previous neuroimaging studies on acupuncture mainly adopted relatively low time-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology and inappropriate block-designed experimental paradigm due to sustained effect, in the current study, we employed a single block-designed paradigm together with high temporal-resolution magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology. We applied time-frequency analysis based upon Morlet wavelet transforming approach to detect differential oscillatory brain dynamics induced by acupuncture at Stomach Meridian 36 (ST36) using a nearby nonacupoint (NAP) as control condition. We observed that frequency power changes were mainly restricted to delta band for both ST36 group and NAP group. Consistently increased delta band power in contralateral temporal regions and decreased power in the counterparts of ipsilateral hemisphere were detected following stimulation at ST36 on the right leg. Compared with ST36, no significant delta ranges were found in temporal regions in NAP group, illustrating different oscillatory brain patterns. Our results may provide additional evidence to support the specificity of acupuncture modulation effects.
authors.affiliation: Intelligent Medical Research Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. youbo.you@ia.ac.cn
authors.forename: Youbo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Ruwei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Chongguang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D026881:Acupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D015225:Magnetoencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors