The role of visual expectations in acupuncture analgesia: A quantitative electroencephalography study

Abstract

Acupuncture is a complex treatment comprising multisensory stimulation, including visual and tactile sensations and experiences of body ownership. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of these three components of acupuncture stimulation in acupuncture analgesia. 40 healthy volunteers participated in the study and received acupuncture treatment under three different conditions (real-hand, rubber-hand synchronous, and rubber-hand asynchronous). The tolerance for heat pain stimuli was measured before and after treatment. Brain oscillation changes were also measured using electroencephalography (EEG). The pain tolerance was significantly increased after acupuncture treatment under all three conditions. Noticeable deqi (needle) sensations in response to acupuncture stimulation of the rubber hand were found under both rubber-hand synchronous and rubber-hand asynchronous conditions. Deqi sensations were significantly correlated with acupuncture analgesia only under the rubber-hand synchronous condition. Increased delta and decreased theta, alpha, beta, and gamma waves were observed after acupuncture treatment under all three conditions. Our findings clarified the role of cognitive components of acupuncture treatment in acupuncture analgesia through the rubber-hand illusion. This study is a first step toward separating various components of acupuncture analgesia, i.e. visual, tactile, and body ownership, and utilizing those components to maximize analgesic effects.

Intelligent Acupuncture: Data-driven Revolution of Traditional Chinese Medicine

“…This approach provides a powerful tool for analyzing and interpreting complex data generated by imaging technologies such as fMRI and fNIRS. Researchers can use an EEG device to collect visual data to assess the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture because brain oscillation alteration is a crucial part of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying acupuncture [83] . Recently, fNIRS has become a prevalent imaging technique in the field of neuroscience [84] , owing to its high temporal resolution and ability to monitor patients in real-world clinical environments [85] .…”

A novel acupuncture technique at the Zusanli point based on virtual reality and EEG: a pilot study

“…It was found that pain tolerance significantly increased in all conditions. The findings suggest that cognitive components, like visual expectations and body ownership, play a significant role in the analgesic effects of acupuncture (Choi et al, 2022 ). By integrating VR for a more immersive experience and using EEG to track brain activity, this approach offers a potential breakthrough in acupuncture research and application, especially in the realm of BCI.…”