Laser acupuncture induced specific cerebral cortical and subcortical activations in humans

Abstract

As recent studies demonstrated, acupuncture can elicit activity in specific brain areas. This study aims to explore further the central effect using laser acupuncture. We investigated the cerebral effects of laser acupuncture at both acupoints GB43 with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). As a control condition the laser was mounted at the same acupoints but without application of laser stimulation. The group results showed significant brain activations within the thalamus, nucleus subthalamicus, nucleus ruber, the brainstem, and the Brodmann areas 40 and 22 for the acupuncture condition. No significant brain activations were observed within the placebo condition. The activations we observed were laser acupuncture-specific and predominantly ipsilateral. This supports the assumption that acupuncture is mediated by meridians, since meridians do not cross to the other side. Furthermore, we could show that laser acupuncture allows one to design a pure placebo condition.

The brain effects of laser acupuncture in healthy individuals: an FMRI investigation

“…Whereas needle acupuncture studies have shown activation and deactivation of the somatosensory cortex [3,4,6,7,[11][12][13][14], superficial needling and laser intervention appear to stimulate cortical and subcortical structures other than the somatosensory cortex [11,19,20]. This is consistent with the observation that low intensity laser stimulation does not produce a skin sensation.…”

“…There have been many studies [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] some of which have involved functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) of the brain effects of needle acupuncture. Some neuroimaging and neuroendocrine studies have suggested that needle acupuncture affects hypothalamic as well as extrahypothalamic functions and modulates mood [3,[5][6][7][8][9].…”

Effect of laser acupoint treatment on blood pressure and body weight—a pilot study

“…1 Based on this beliefs about the causes of obesity, a variety of acupoints is targeted in the treatment of obesity, including Neiguan (P6), Fenglong (St40), Liangmen (St 21), Guanyuan (R4), Zusanli (St36), Tianshu (St25), and Quchi (LI11), where P refers to a pericardium, St to stomach, R to Ren, and LI to large intestine meridians. 15,16 Many people today understand that diet and exercise can help them lose weight, but the biggest problem they come across is how to suppress their appetite. 9 Studies have shown that stimulating certain acupuncture points on the human body can raise the serotonin levels and also excite the vagal nerve, both of which may reduce appetite.…”

The brain effects of laser acupuncture in depressed individuals: an fMRI investigation

“…Needle studies describe consistently the involvement of the sensory cortex. 13,40,41,[52][53][54] As the lowintensity laser has non-nociceptive properties, activation of the primary somatosensory cortex was not recorded for all acupoints except LR 8, which was stimulatory of primary sensory and motor cortices. The significance of this is not known.…”