Power estimation predicts specific function action of acupuncture: an fMRI study.

PURPOSE The purpose was to investigate the distinct pattern of brain response induced by electroacupuncture stimulation (EAS) related to sustained acupuncture effects. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-eight healthy volunteers were enrolled and randomized into two groups. According to grouping, volunteers were separately treated by EAS at GB37 (Guangming) or KI8 (Jiaoxin) during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Differences in acupuncture effects between the groups were tested by the power estimation approach. RESULTS Spatial patterns of the whole brain power were different in the periaqueductal gray, occipital cortex (OC) and temporal cortex when induced by EAS at GB37 and KI8. Moreover, the differences in the sustained effects between these two acupoints were also identified and associated with the OC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and insula. CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture stimulation induced different power fluctuation patterns related to GB37 and KI8. We suggest that these findings might be attributed to the specific function action of these acupoints.