The fMRI Comparative Study on Cutaneous or Routine Needling in Acupoints Waiguan(SJ_5) and Neiguan(PC_6)

Objective:To compare the different activating effect on cerebral functional regions between cutaneous stimulation and routine needling in Waiguan(SJ5) and Neiguan(PC6) by fMRI.Methods:Eight volunteers received 2 times stimulation of cutaneous and routine needling in SJ5 and PC6,and received the cerebral fMRI scan under the different states by GE 1.5T superconducting magnetic resonance imaging system.The cerebral activating rate,number and strength of different ROIs were compared between the two different stimulating methods.Results:Two needling methods both activated bilateral cerebral areas in different degree,and the activating rate and number had not any difference between the superficial and deep needling(P0.05),except that the activating strength in the right parietal lobe of the routine needling was higher than that of cutaneous needling(P0.05).Conclusion:Both the stimulations of cutaneous or routine needling in SJ5 and PC6 could activate bilateral cerebral functional regions in a certain degree,and there was a difference on cerebral activating between the two stimulations.