Acupuncture for Improving Language Function

Acupuncture for Improving Language Function

This study was to explore the specificity of Tongli (HT 5) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) paired acupionts in aspects of Deqi sensation and brain activation patterns during electroacupuncture. In this study, 15 healthy subjects were enrolled. All participants suffered two kinds of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) examinations randomly: Examination A received electro-acupuncture (EA) at the bilateral Tongli (HT5) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) acupoints (ACU), and examination B received EA at bilateral non-acupoints (NAP). The subjects reported the feeling of Deqi at each examination later respectively. A multi-voxel pattern analysis method and Statistical Program for Social Sciences were used to analyze the data. The ACU group (Exam A) reported fullness, heaviness, numbness, soreness and throbbing of significantly greater intensity than the NAP group (Exam B). In addition, there was no statistical significance between two groups in aching, tingling, deep pressure, sharp pain, dull pain, warmness and cold. Meanwhile, fMRI data revealed differences between two groups in discriminating accuracy of brain somatosensory cortex and language-related cortices. Needling HT 5 and GB 39 may modulate language function through a complex brain network, suggesting that it may be beneficial to the recovery of language function in patients with aphasia.

Source: Xiao J, Zhang H, Chang JL, Zhou L, Tan ZJ, Zhong HZ, Zhu D, Gao Y. Effects of electro-acupuncture at Tongli (HT 5) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) acupoints from functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence. Chin J Integr Med. 2015 Jun 30.