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Low-Frequency Magnetic Stimulation of Shenmen Acupoint Reduces Blood Oxygen Levels in the Prefrontal Cortex of Healthy Subjects: A Near-Infrared Brain Functional Imaging Study

  • Acupuncture Research
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Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To explore the effect of low-frequency magnetic stimulation at Shenmen (HT 7) acupoint on blood oxygen levels in the prefrontal cortex of healthy subjects.

Methods

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology was used to collect real-time data of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in the prefrontal cortex of 16 healthy subjects at resting state and low-frequency magnetic stimulation of Shenmen. The mean and integral values of blood oxygen concentration were analyzed.

Results

Compared with the resting state, the mean and integral values of blood oxygen concentration were decreased during the task period, recovery period, and the whole process in the magnetic stimulation of Shenmen acupoint (P<0.05). In particular, the difference was statistically significant in the recovery period (P<0.01).

Conclusions

The prefrontal cortex was widely activated and produced an immediate effect by reducing the local blood oxygen concentration at low-frequency magnetic stimulation of Shenmen acupoint, which verifies the sedative effect of Shenmen acupoint.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611130, China

    Jie Yuan

  2. Department of Encephalopathy, Shaanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, 710003, China

    Jie Yuan, Jie Chen & Ya-ling Lei

  3. Neurobiologic Testing Center, Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, 610044, China

    Zhong Zheng

  4. College of Acupuncture and Massage, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611130, China

    Yue Cao

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, Xi’an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, 710003, China

    Yuan-yuan Li

Authors
  1. Jie Yuan
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  2. Zhong Zheng
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  3. Yue Cao
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  4. Jie Chen
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  5. Yuan-yuan Li
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  6. Ya-ling Lei
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ya-ling Lei.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81873354); Ministry of Science and Technology of Shaanxi Province (No. 2018ZDXM-SF-013, No.2020SF-342)

Interest of Conflict

There is no conflict of interest between the authors.

Author Contributions

Yuan J and Lei YL designed this study. Yuan J, Cao Y and Zheng Z drafted the manuscript. Li YY performed the statistical analysis. Chen J was responsible for the writing revision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Yuan, J., Zheng, Z., Cao, Y. et al. Low-Frequency Magnetic Stimulation of Shenmen Acupoint Reduces Blood Oxygen Levels in the Prefrontal Cortex of Healthy Subjects: A Near-Infrared Brain Functional Imaging Study. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 27, 585–588 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-021-3291-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-021-3291-z

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