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Effects of far-infrared radiation on heart rate variability and central manifestations in healthy subjects: a resting-fMRI study

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the autonomic responses and central manifestations by peripheral FIR stimulation. Ten subjects (mean ± SD age 26.2 ± 3.52 years) received FIR stimulation at left median nerve territory for 40 min. Electrocardiograph was continuously recorded and heart rate variability (HRV) were analyzed. By using a 3 T-MRI scanner, three sessions of resting-state functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) were acquired, namely, before (baseline-FIR), immediately after (IA-FIR) and 15 min after FIR was turned off (Post-FIR). The fractional amplitude of low-frequency (0.01-0.08 Hz) fluctuation (fALFF) of each session to evaluate the intensity of resting-brain activity in each session was analyzed. Our results showed that FIR stimulation induced significant HRV responses such as an increasing trend of nLF and LF/HF ratio, while FIR increased fALFF in right superior front gyrus, middle frontal gyrus and decreased the resting brain activity at fusiform gyrus, extrastriae cortex, inferior temporal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus, especially 15 min after FIR was turned off. We conclude that the central manifestation and the autonomic responses are prominent during and after FIR stimulation, which provide important mechanistic explanation on human disorder treated by such energy medicine.

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Abbreviations

FIR:

Far-infrared radiation

HRV:

Heart rate variability

fMRI:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

fALFF:

Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to the Laboratory of Integrated Brain Research, Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China, for their excellent comments and resources. We acknowledge MR support from National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, which is in part supported by the MOE plan for the top university.

Competing interest

The authors have no competing interest.

Authors’ contributions

Lin YJ conducted the studies, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. Chiu JH supervised Dr. Lin YJ and designed the study. Hsieh JC assisted the study design while KungYY, Kuo WJ, Niddam DM, Chou CC, Cheng CM, and Yeh TC provided facilities and helped to analyze the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No.155, Sec.2, Linong Street, Taipei, 112, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yii-Jeng Lin & Jen-Hwey Chiu

  2. Research Center for Traditional Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yen-Ying Kung

  3. Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Wen-Jui Kuo

  4. Laboratory of Integrated Brain Research, Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Wen-Jui Kuo, David M. Niddam, Chou-Ming Cheng, Tzu-Chen Yeh & Jen-Chuen Hsieh

  5. Institute of Brain Science, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming, University, Taiwan, Republic of China

    David M. Niddam, Chih-Che Chou, Tzu-Chen Yeh & Jen-Chuen Hsieh

  6. Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Jen-Chuen Hsieh

  7. Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Jen-Chuen Hsieh

  8. Division of General Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Jen-Hwey Chiu

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  1. Yii-Jeng Lin
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  2. Yen-Ying Kung
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  7. Tzu-Chen Yeh
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  9. Jen-Hwey Chiu
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Correspondence to Jen-Hwey Chiu.

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Lin, YJ., Kung, YY., Kuo, WJ. et al. Effects of far-infrared radiation on heart rate variability and central manifestations in healthy subjects: a resting-fMRI study. Lasers Med Sci 30, 295–301 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-014-1662-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-014-1662-9

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