title: Specific Correlation between the Hegu Point (LI4) and the Orofacial Part: Evidence from an fMRI Study.
abstract: Acupoint specificity is a foundational concept in acupuncture theory. It is closely related to the function of the acupoint. In this study, we sought to probe the central mechanisms of the specific correlation between LI4 and orofacial part in Bell's palsy patients. In total, 36 patients with left Bell's palsy were divided into three groups in random order, and each group received transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) at only one of three acupoints (LI4, ST6, and a sham point). A single-block fMRI design paradigm was applied to separately detect neural activity related to different stages of TEAS (prestimulation resting state, stimulation, and poststimulation resting state). Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired during TEAS. There were extensive neuronal activities in the LI4 and ST6 groups and significant differences between stimulation at real and sham points. Brain regions were activated more by real acupoint TEAS than by sham point TEAS. Brain regions that were activated with LI4 and ST6 were broadly overlapping and adjacent. Our results provide supplementary neuroimaging evidence for the existence of acupoint specificity. These results may confirm the central mechanisms of the specific correlation between the Hegu point and the orofacial part.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China ; Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250011, China.
authors.forename: Su-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Wen
authors.initials: QW
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250011, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Technology and Applications, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China ; Beijing Engineering Research Center of Radiographic Techniques and Equipment, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Bin-Bin
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Dian-Hui
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yang