Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Acupunctural analgesia? Evaluation by signal detection theory.

W C Clark, J C Yang

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |June 7, 1974
    PubMed
    Summary

    Acupuncture may not reduce pain perception, but rather alter pain expectations. This study suggests acupuncture influences pain criteria, not sensory processing, challenging its analgesic effects.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    [Association between KLK10 gene methylation in female breast tumor tissue and the risk of invasive breast cancer].

    Zhonghua yi xue za zhi·2025
    Same author

    [Combined-modality therapy for extensive arteriovenous malformation of head and neck: a case report].

    Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery·2025
    Same author

    Mass Measurement of Upper fp-Shell N=Z-2 and N=Z-1 Nuclei and the Importance of Three-Nucleon Force along the N=Z Line.

    Physical review letters·2023
    Same author

    [Influencing factors of mild cognitive impairment among the Chinese elderly: a meta-analysis].

    Zhonghua yi xue za zhi·2023
    Same author

    [Research advances of adipose stem cell matrix gel in promoting wound healing].

    Zhonghua shao shang yu chuang mian xiu fu za zhi·2023
    Same author

    [Evaluation of safety and clinical efficacy of bilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty in treatment of osteoporotic thoraco-lumbar burst fractures].

    Zhonghua yi xue za zhi·2022

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Pain Management
    • Acupuncture Research

    Background:

    • Acupuncture is a traditional practice often associated with pain relief.
    • The physiological mechanisms underlying acupuncture's effects remain debated.
    • Understanding whether acupuncture induces true analgesia or modulates pain perception is crucial.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effects of acupuncture on pain perception and sensory processing.
    • To determine if acupuncture induces genuine analgesia or influences pain reporting.
    • To differentiate between sensory changes and response bias in acupuncture studies.

    Main Methods:

    • Subjects received noxious thermal stimulation to both arms, one with acupuncture, one without.
    • Pain responses were recorded, and sensory decision theory was applied to analyze the data.
    • Discriminability and response criteria were assessed to understand sensory processing versus response bias.

    Main Results:

    • Acupuncture led to a reported decrease in pain responses in the treated arm.
    • Sensory decision theory analysis revealed no significant difference in sensory discriminability between arms.
    • The primary effect observed was an increase in the pain response criterion in the acupuncture group.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings suggest acupuncture does not induce physiological analgesia by altering sensory perception.
    • Acupuncture's effect appears to be related to a change in the subjects' pain reporting criterion, influenced by expectation.
    • This challenges the notion of acupuncture as a direct analgesic treatment and highlights the role of psychological factors.

    Related Experiment Videos