Activation of the hypothalamus characterizes the acupuncture stimulation at the analgesic point in human: A positron emission tomography study

Jen Chuen Hsieh*, Chung Haow Tu, Fang Pey Chen, Min Chi Chen, Tzu Chen Yeh, Hui Cheng Cheng, Yu Te Wu, Ren Shyan Liu, Low Tone Ho

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

191 Scopus citations

Abstract

We performed a positron emission tomography study, using regional cerebral blood flow as the index of brain activity, to address the specificity of brain activation pattern by acupuncture stimulation of short duration at the classical analgesic point. Needling manipulation at 2 Hz was performed at a classical point of prominent analgesic efficacy (Li 4, Heku) and a near-by non-classical/non-analgesic point, respectively, in normal subjects. Regions activated by acupuncture stimulation at Li 4 included the hypothalamus with an extension to midbrain, the insula, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the cerebellum. Of note, it was only the stimulation at Li 4 that activated the hypothalamus under the similar psychophysical ratings of acupuncture sensation (deqi) as elicited by the stimulation at the two points, respectively. The data suggested that the hypothalamus might characterize the central expression of acupuncture stimulation at the classical analgesic point and serve as one key element in mediating analgesic efficacy of acupuncture stimulation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)105-108
Number of pages4
JournalNeuroscience Letters
Volume307
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 13 Jul 2001

Keywords

  • Acupuncture
  • Brain
  • Brain stem
  • Cerebellum
  • Hypothalamus
  • Insula
  • Pain
  • Positron emission tomography

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