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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Monitoring Acupuncture Effects on Human Brain by fMRI
09:55

Monitoring Acupuncture Effects on Human Brain by fMRI

Published on: April 8, 2010

Effect of acupuncture on perception threshold: a randomised controlled trial.

Shuang Wu1, Hidenori Yamaguchi, Koh Shibutani

  • 1Department of Anaesthesiology, Nihon University Graduate School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan. zenmusou@hotmail.com

Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society
|January 14, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Acupuncture at LI4 Hegu significantly increases perception thresholds in the mandibular area, suggesting a localized analgesic effect. This acupuncture point did not affect perception in the arm.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pain Management
  • Acupuncture Research

Background:

  • Acupuncture is a traditional therapy with growing scientific interest.
  • Quantitative evaluation of acupuncture's effectiveness requires objective measures like current perception thresholds (CPTs).
  • The LI4 Hegu acupoint is commonly used for pain relief.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the effect of acupuncture at LI4 Hegu on CPTs in the arm and mandibular (mental foramen) areas.
  • To evaluate the potential analgesic efficacy of acupuncture using objective sensory measurements.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 98 volunteers assigned to acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waiting groups.
  • CPTs were measured using a Neurometer before and after treatment at the homolateral mental foramen and arm.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 25, 2026

Monitoring Acupuncture Effects on Human Brain by fMRI
09:55

Monitoring Acupuncture Effects on Human Brain by fMRI

Published on: April 8, 2010

  • A subgroup analysis examined contralateral mental foramen CPTs.

    • Main Results:

    • Acupuncture at LI4 Hegu significantly increased CPTs in the left mental foramen area compared to control and sham groups.
    • The effect was frequency-dependent, with significant differences at 250 Hz and 5 Hz versus sham.
    • CPTs in the arm were not significantly affected by acupuncture at LI4 Hegu.

    Conclusions:

    • Acupuncture at the LI4 Hegu acupoint demonstrates a localized analgesic effect, specifically increasing sensory perception thresholds in the mandibular region.
    • The findings suggest that acupuncture's effectiveness in pain management may be site-specific.
    • Further research can explore the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these localized effects.