Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
09:55
Monitoring Acupuncture Effects on Human Brain by fMRI
Published on: April 8, 2010
Is there any difference in human pupillary reaction when different acupuncture points are stimulated?
Hidetoshi Mori1, Tim Hideaki Tanaka, Hiroshi Kuge
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health, Course of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tsukuba University of Technology, National University Corporation, Kasuga Ibaraki, Japan.
Summary
Acupuncture stimulation at specific sites, namely ST7 and TE5, caused significant changes in pupil size. However, stimulation at ST36 and CV12, and no stimulation, did not affect pupillary response.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Pupillary response is a key indicator of autonomic nervous system activity.
- Investigating non-invasive methods to modulate autonomic function is of clinical interest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of acupuncture stimulation at different acupoints on pupillary response.
- To determine if specific acupuncture sites elicit differential pupillary changes.
Main Methods:
- 14 healthy males participated in a randomized crossover study.
- Five interventions were tested: no stimulation, and acupuncture at TE5, ST7, CV12, and ST36.
- Pupil diameter was measured continuously before, during, and after 90-second manual tapping stimulation.
Main Results:
- Acupuncture at ST7 resulted in significant pupil diameter reduction at 30 and 60 seconds post-stimulation (p=0.008, p=0.014).
- Acupuncture at TE5 showed a significant decrease in pupil diameter at 60 seconds post-stimulation (p=0.028).
- No significant pupillary changes were observed for ST36, CV12, or the no-stimulation control.
Conclusions:
- Pupillary reactions to acupuncture vary based on the specific stimulation site.
- Acupuncture at ST7 and TE5 may influence autonomic pathways regulating pupil size.
