Neuroscience 2004 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 863.13 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Observation of neural substrates involved in pain perception and analgesia by functional magnetic resonance imaging. |
| Authors: |
Cho, Z.*1
; Son, Y.1
; Kang, C.1
; Kim, Y.2
; Sung, K.3
1Dept Radiol Sci, Univ CA Irvine, Irvine, CA 2South Korea, Medical Sci 1 Rm B140B, 92697, 3Neurosurgery, Medical Sci 1 Rm B140B, 92697, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Homeostatic and Neuroendocrine Systems - Stress and the Brain -- Stress-modulated pathways |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Sensory Systems<br />- Pain<br />-- Thalamic and cortical processing |
| Session: |
863. Treatments for Persistent Pain Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Wednesday, October 27, 2004 8:00 AM-9:00 AM |
| Location: | San Diego Convention Center - Hall A-H, Board # T9 |
| Keywords: | Acupuncture, fMRI, Stress-induced analgesia, HPA axis |
Objectives: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the cortical changes in pain perception when applying different kind of conditioning sensory stimuli, namely acupuncture (Meridian) and acupuncture-like (Sham) stimuli and to show that these stimuli are essentially those of the stress-inducing stimuli and the results are the consequence of the HPA axis reflexes.
Methods: Brain activation was observed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a set of thermal stimuli as pain stimulus which induced by immersing the index finger into a hot water bath, approximately 51~52°C for 30 seconds. The experiment is performed by applying the pain following Meridian acupuncture and Sham acupuncture which applying needling to the traditionally known acupuncture points and points nearby but not those. These stimuli were manually twirling or rotating of a needle with approximately 1 Hz for a period of 30 seconds and rest period of 30 seconds with repetition of 5 times.
Results: The results were compared with that of the pain perception alone. Data sets of both Meridian acupuncture and Sham acupuncture show decreased activation of the same brain areas, such as the cingulate cortex and thalamus, which showed increased brain activity in response to the pain alone.
Conclusions: The present fMRI study demonstrates two important biological observations that could elucidate the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia in human: 1) the physiological effects of acupuncture occur through mediation of the higher brain areas related to pain signal processing, and 2) Sham acupuncture appears to be as effective as traditional Meridian-acupuncture, suggesting that acupuncture is not entirely point specific implying that it is possibly mediated by the broad sense HPA axis reflexes.
Methods: Brain activation was observed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a set of thermal stimuli as pain stimulus which induced by immersing the index finger into a hot water bath, approximately 51~52°C for 30 seconds. The experiment is performed by applying the pain following Meridian acupuncture and Sham acupuncture which applying needling to the traditionally known acupuncture points and points nearby but not those. These stimuli were manually twirling or rotating of a needle with approximately 1 Hz for a period of 30 seconds and rest period of 30 seconds with repetition of 5 times.
Results: The results were compared with that of the pain perception alone. Data sets of both Meridian acupuncture and Sham acupuncture show decreased activation of the same brain areas, such as the cingulate cortex and thalamus, which showed increased brain activity in response to the pain alone.
Conclusions: The present fMRI study demonstrates two important biological observations that could elucidate the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia in human: 1) the physiological effects of acupuncture occur through mediation of the higher brain areas related to pain signal processing, and 2) Sham acupuncture appears to be as effective as traditional Meridian-acupuncture, suggesting that acupuncture is not entirely point specific implying that it is possibly mediated by the broad sense HPA axis reflexes.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2004 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online.
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