• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.29-46
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• 2004

Objectives and Methods : This study was performed to investigate the effect of electro -acupuncture at four gates(bilateral LR3 and LI4) on brain activity in normal subjects using fMRI. Results and Conclusions : 1. fMRI signal increase by electro-acupuncture at Lt. LR3 was observed in Rt. Middle frontal gyrus in group average as well as more than half of the subjects. 2. fMRI signal decreases by electro-acupuncture at Lt. LR3 were observed in Rt. Superior frontal gyrus, Rt. Middle temporal gyrus, Rt. Cingulate gyrus in group average as well as more than half of the subjects. 3. fMRI signal increases by electro-acupuncture at Lt. LI4 were observed in Lt. Superior frontal gyrus, Lt. Middle frontal gyrus, Lt. Inf. Semi-Lunar Lobule(cerebellum), Rt. Middle frontal gyrus, Rt. Cingulate gyrus in group average as well as more than half of the subjects. 4. fMRI signal decreases by electro-acupuncture at Lt. LI4 were observed in Lt. Middle frontal gyrus, Lt. Inferior frontal gyrus, Lt. Precentral gyrus and Rt. Middle frontal gyrus, Rt. Middle temporal gyrus, Rt. Precuneus, Rt. Inferior frontal gyrus, Rt. Postcentral gyrus in group average as well as more than half of the subjects. 5. fMRI signal increase by electro-acupuncture at Lt. LR3 and Lt. LI4 in group average as well as more than half of the subjects was not observed. 6. fMRI signal decreases by electro-acupuncture at Lt. LR3 and Lt. LI4 were observed in Lt. culmen(cerebellum), Lt. Cingulate gyrus와 Rt. Middle frontal gyrus, Rt. Cingulate gyrus, Rt. Inferior frontal gyrus in group average as well as more than half of the subjects. 7. fMRI signal increases by electro-acupuncture at four gates (bilateral LR3 and LI4) were observed in Lt. Middle temporal gyrus and Lt. Postcentral gyrus in group average as well as more than half of the subjects. 8. fMRI signal decrease by electro-acupuncture at four gates (bilateral LR3 and LI4) were observed in Lt. Middle frontal gyrus, Lt. Precentral gyrus, Lt. Inferior frontal gyrus, Lt. Middle temporal gyrus, Lt. Frontal sub-gyral and Rt. Tuber(cerebellum) in group average as well as more than half of the subjects.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.211-219
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• 2008

목적 : 전통적으로 태충($LR_3$)과 양릉천($GB_{34}$)은 운동기능과 관련된 질환에 사용되어 왔다. 우리는 두뇌에 신경독을 주입하여 파킨슨병 쥐모델을 제작하였고, 쥐는 운동기능이 손상되고 도파민성 신경세포가 선택적으로 소멸하였다. 병증 모델 쥐에게 태충과 양릉천에 자침한 결과 운동기능이 개선되고 신경세포보호효과가 나타남을 관찰한 바 있다. 이에 실제로 태충과 양릉천에 자침하여 운동기능과 관련된 추체외로 영역에서 신경의 활성화가 나타나는지를 fMRI를 통하여 관찰하였다. 방법 : 자침은 수기침을 선택하였으며, 혈위는 (1) 태충, (2) 양릉천, (3) 태충+양릉천의 세군데를 설정하였고, 자침에 대한 대조자극으로 피부자극을 채택하였다. fMRI 스캐너는 3T를 사용하였고 뇌신경 활성화의 신호는 BOLD(blood-oxygen-level dependant)를 관찰하였다. 두뇌에서 관찰부위는 중뇌를 중심으로 추체외로로 한정하였다. 결과 : 태충에 자침하였을 때 두뇌의 substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, red nucleus, pons 등이 활성화 되었다. 양릉천에 자침하였을 때 substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, caudate nucleus, thalamus가 활성화 되었다. 태충과 양릉천에 동시에 자침하였을 때는 substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, red nucleus, globus pallidus가 활성화되었다. 대조자극에 의해서는 위의 영역들이 활성화되지 않았다. 결론 : 태충, 양릉천, 태충+양릉천 자극은 대뇌에서 추체외로 영역을 활성화시키며 특히 substantia nigra의 활성화는 파킨슨병과 같은 질환의 조절가능성을 시사한다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.89-92
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• 2005

The effects of acupuncture are complex and how it works is not entirely clear. Research suggests that the needling process, and other modalities used in acupuncture, may produce their complex effects on a wide variety of ways in the brain and the body. For example, it is theorized that stimulated nerve fibers transmit signals to the spinal cord and brain, thus activating parts of what is called the central nervous system. The spinal cord and brain then release certain hormones responsible for making us feel better overall and, more specifically, feel less pain. In fact, a study using images of the brain confirmed that acupuncture increases our pain threshold, which may explain its ability to produce long-term pain relief. Also, acupuncture may increase blood circulation and body temperature. It may also affect white blood cell activity (responsible for our immune function).