Activated and deactivated functional brain areas in the Deqi state: A functional MRI study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Acupuncture, a key component of traditional Chinese medicine, involves stimulating specific points on the body.
• The Deqi sensation, characterized by numbness, heaviness, and aching, is considered an indicator of acupuncture efficacy.
• Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of Deqi is crucial for its integration into modern healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural correlates of the Deqi sensation during acupuncture.
• To compare brain activity in Deqi versus non-Deqi states using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• To identify specific brain regions activated or deactivated by true acupuncture needling.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to monitor brain activity in real-time.
• Twelve healthy volunteers underwent both sham and true needling at the Waiguan (TE5) acupoint.
• Participants and physicians reported sensory experiences to differentiate Deqi from non-Deqi states.

Main Results:

• True needling, associated with Deqi, significantly activated numerous brain regions, including Brodmann areas (BA) 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 20, 21, 37, 39, 40, 43, and 47.
• Key subcortical structures like the head of the caudate nucleus, thalamus, and red nucleus were activated.
• Conversely, true needling led to the deactivation of specific Brodmann areas (BA 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 18, 24, 31, 40, and 46).

Conclusions:

• Acupuncture, particularly when eliciting the Deqi sensation, modulates activity in a widespread network of brain regions.
• The observed pattern of activation and deactivation suggests complex sensory processing and integration within the brain.
• These findings provide neurobiological evidence supporting the physiological effects of acupuncture and the Deqi phenomenon.