Journal of radiological science and technology (대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학)

Korean Society of Radiological Science (대한방사선과학회)
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Comparison of Brain Activation Images Associated with Sexual Arousal Induced by Visual Stimulation and SP6 Acupuncture : fMRI at 3 Tesla

시각자극과 삼음교 자침으로 유발된 성적 흥분의 대뇌 활성화 영상의 비교 : 3 테슬라 기능적 자기공명영상법

  • Choi, Nam-Gil (Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hospital) ;
  • Han, Jae-Bok (Department of Radiology, Dongshin University) ;
  • Jang, Seong-Joo (Department of Radiology, Dongshin University)
  • 최남길 (전남대학교병원 영상의학과) ;
  • 한재복 (동신대학교 방사선학과) ;
  • 장성주 (동신대학교 방사선학과)
  • Published : 2009.06.30
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Abstract

Purpose : This study was performed not only to compare the brain activation regions associated with sexual arousal induced by visual stimulation and SP6 acupuncture, but also to evaluate its differential neuro-anatomical mechanism in healthy women using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 3 Tesla (T). Subjects and methods : A total of 21 healthy right-handed female volunteers (mean age 22 years, range 19 to 32) underwent fMRI on a 3T MR scanner. The stimulation paradigm for sexual arousal consisted of two alternating periods of rest and activation. It began with a 1-minute rest period, 3 minutes of stimulation with either of an erotic video film or SP6 acupuncture, followed by 1-minute rest. In addition, a comparative study on the brain activation patterns between an acupoint and a shampoint nearby GB37 was performed. The fMRI data were obtained from 20 slices parallel to the AC-PC line on an axial plane, giving a total of 2,000 images. The mean activation maps were constructed and analyzed by using the statistical parametric mapping (SPM99) software. Results : As comparison with the shampoint, the acupoint showed 5 times and 2 times higher activities in the neocortex and limbic system, respectively. Note that brain activation in response to stimulation with the shampoint was not observed in the regions including the HTHL in the diencephalon, GLO and AMYG in the basal ganglia, and SMG in the parietal lobe. In the comparative study of visual stimulation vs. SP6 acupuncture, the mean activation ratio of stimulus was not significantly different to each other in both the neocortex and the limbic system (p < 0.05). The mean activities induced by both stimuli were not significantly different in the neocortex, whereas the acupunctural stimulation showed higher activity in the limbic system (p < 0.05). Conclusions : This study compared the differential brain activation patterns and the neural mechanisms for sexual arousal, which were induced by visual stimulation and SP6 acupuncture by using 3T fMRI. These findings will be useful to understand the theory of traditional acupuncture and acupoint channel in scientific point of view.

목 적 : 정상인 여성을 대상으로 기능적 자기공명영상법(functional magnetic resonance imaging : fMRI)을 이용하여 성적 흥분반응과 관련되는 시각자극과 삼음교(SP6, 三陰交) 경혈자극 의한 대뇌 활성화 영역의 차이점을 밝히고, 나아가서는 성적흥분의 기전을 신경해부학적인 측면에서 규명하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 성기능이 정상적인 오른손잡이 여자 21명(19$\sim$32세 : 평균 22세)을 대상으로 3.0 Tesla MR scanner를 이용하여 fMRI 영상을 얻었다. 성적 흥분을 유도하기 위한 패러다임은 3분간의 에로틱 비디오 시청과 삼음교(SP6)자침에 의한 자극을 주었으며, 자극 전 후에는 각각 1분간의 휴지기를 두었다. 또한 광명혈(GB37) 후방으로 3 cm 위치에 있는 비경혈점에 자극을 주어 경혈(acupoint)과 비경혈(shampoint) 자침에 의한 대뇌의 활성화 양상을 비교하였다. 기능적 자기공명영상의 획득은 AC-PC line을 기준으로 20개의 횡단면으로부터 총 2,000개의 기초영상을 얻었으며, SPM99 프로그램을 이용하여 평균 활성화 영상을 얻었다. 결 과 : 삼음교 경혈과 비경혈의 침자극에 의한 비교실험에서 경혈은 비경혈에 비하여 대뇌 신피질에서 평균 5배, 변연계에서 2배 높은 활성화도를 보였다. 비경혈 자극시에 간뇌의 HTHL, 기저핵의 GLO, AMYG, 그리고 두정엽의 SMG 등에서는 활성화 신호가 관찰되지 않았다. 성적흥분과 관련된 대뇌의 해부학적인 영역을 시각자극과 삼음교 경혈자극 별로 비교 분석한 결과, 두 자극간의 평균 활성화율(activation ratio)은 신피질과 변연계 모두에서 유의한 차이가 없었다(p < 0.05). 반면 평균 활성화도(activity)는 신피질의 경우에는 두 자극간에 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았으나, 변연계의 경우에는 경혈 자극시에 유의하게 더 높은 활성화도를 보였다(p < 0.05). 결 론 : 기능적 자기공명영상법을 이용하여 성적흥분과 관련된 시각자극과 경혈 침술자극에 의하여 유발된 대뇌 활성화 양상의 차이점과 신경해부학적 기전의 차이점을 규명할 수 있었으며, 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 향후 한방의 경혈, 경락 이론을 과학적인 측면에서 입증할 수 있을 것으로 기대한다.

Keywords

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