Characterizing the analgesic effects of real and imagined acupuncture using functional and structure MRI.

ABSTRACT: Acupuncture and imagery interventions for pain management have a long history. The present study comparatively investigated whether acupuncture and video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT, watching a video of acupuncture on the participant's own body while imagining it being applied) could modulate brain regional connectivity to produce analgesic effects. The study also examined whether pre-intervention brain functional and structural features could be used to predict the magnitude of analgesic effects. Twenty-four healthy participants were recruited and received four different interventions (real acupuncture, sham acupuncture, VGAIT, and VGAIT control) in random order using a cross-over design. Pain thresholds and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were collected before and a

SUBMITTER: Cao J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7738388 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature