[Observation on the phenomenon of propagated sensation along meridians in youngsters]

That the opinion on the relation between the propagated sensation along meridians (PSM) and the age of the subjects was divergent in the results reported by some authors. In the last 10 years, we have performed a systematic investigation on PSM on a group of 536 youngsters. The main characteristics of PSM in youngsters were just the same as that of adults. However, the incidence of PSM in youngsters, particularly the degree of distinctness of PSM, was by far higher than that of adults. The results were stable and could be repeated in the experiments performed in different years. It showed that there was surely a close relation between the degree of distinctness of PSM and the age of subjects. This fact can not be appropriately explained at present. However, it provides an important clue to clarify the factors which influence the appearance of PSM, and in turn to promote the improvement of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and cilacriation of the mechanism underlying the formation of PSM.