초록
Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of auricular acupuncture at the Shinmun on patients with dementia by using power spectrum analysis. Electroencephalogram(EEG) power spectrum show site-specific and state-related differences in various frequency bands. Methods : Study was carried out in 38 subjects.(31 patients with dementia and 7 normal people, 27 females and 11 males ; mean age=75.9 years old). To know the effect of auricular acupuncture at the Shinmun in patients with dementia, we measured electroencephalogram(EEG) of normal people and patients with dementia about 'before', 'after' and 'after 15 minutes' giving auricular acupuncture at the Shinmun, and compared the brain wave($\alpha$, $\beta$, $\delta$, $\theta$) of EEG 30 channels. Results : In the case of patients with dementia, in the power values of $\alpha$(alpha) band at F4, FP2, FCZ, F8, FC4 channels (p<0.05) during the Shinmun-auricular acupuncture treatment increased significantly. In $\beta$(beta) band, the power values at T8 channel(p<0.05) during the Shinmun-auricular acupuncture treatment increased significantly. In $\delta$(delta) band, the power values at F7, FP1, FZ, FP2, FCZ, C4, FC4, CP4, T8, P7, P3, O1, OZ, O2, P4, P8 channels(p<0.05) during the Shinmun-auricular acupuncture treatment decreased significantly. In $\Theta$(theta) band, the power values at O1, OZ, O2channel(p<0.05) during the Shinmun-auricular acupuncture treatment decreased significantly. Conclusions : Through these results, we concluded that auricular acupuncture at the Shinmun on patients with dementia could have effect the functional mechanism of the cerebral cortex.
