| Abstract: | Objective: Recently, researchers have paid more attention to sensation of De-qi, especially at ST36.However, little is known of the responding brain areas if the sensation of De-qi is suppressed.So, this study aims at detecting the brain response when De-qi was inhibited by local anesthesia at ST36.Methods: Forty healthy volunteers were recruited in this study.They all received two rounds of functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) scans.One was accompanied with manual acupuncture at ST36(DQ group), and another was associated with local anesthesia and manual acupuncture at the same acupoint(LA group).At end of each scan, subjects were asked to quantify their stimulating sensations using a 10-point visual analogue scale.Results: Compared with the DQ group, most of De-qi sensations reduced by local anesthesia were soreness(94%), numbness(96%), fullness(92%), spreading(96%) and dull pain(98%).In the DQ group a lot of areas displayed significant fMRI signal intensity changes.The mainly activated regions were bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, S1, M1, inferior parietal lobule, thalamus, insula, claustrum, cingulate gyrus, putamen, superior temporal gyrus, and cerebellum.Surprisingly only cerebellum showed significant activation in the LA group.In the two groups, bilateral S1, insula, ipsilateral IFG, IPL, claustrum and contralateral ACC were remarkably activated.Conclusion: The responding brain areas to De-qi would bereduced following local anesthesia at ST36 |
