An fMRI study of the effects on normal language areas when acupuncturing the Tongli (HT ₅) and Xuanzhong (GB ₃₉) acupoints

摘要

Objective Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis of the effects of acupuncturing the Tongli (HT_(5)) and Tongli (HT_(5))–Xuanzhong (GB_(39)) acupoints on the normal language areas with a view to providing a theoretical basis for using acupuncture to treat patients with aphasia. Methods This study enrolled healthy volunteers. The following acupoints were stimulated: right Tongli (HT_(5)), right Tongli (HT_(5))–Xuanzhong (GB_(39)), right Tongli (HT_(5)) sham acupuncture, left Tongli (HT_(5)), and left Tongli (HT_(5))–Xuanzhong (GB_(39)) acupoints. Acupuncture stimulation was delivered whilst fMRI scanning of the brain was undertaken. Results Ten healthy volunteers (five males) were included in this study (mean age 44.5?±?2.5 years; range 40–55 years). Based on the statistical analyses, only acupuncturing the right Tongli (HT_(5)) acupoint resulted in activation of multiple regions of the bilateral cerebral hemisphere that were closely related to the language regions. The right Tongli (HT_(5)) stimulation had a laterality index of 0.0952; with the activated voxels on the left side language-related areas being greater than those on the right side. Conclusions Acupuncturing the right Tongli (HT_(5)) acupoint results in activation of the bilateral language-related areas, so this acupoint might be useful for the acupuncture treatment of aphasia caused by cerebral infarction.