Effect of Acupuncture on Human Brain Activity - Full Text View

Effect of Acupuncture on Human Brain Activity

This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), February 2008

Sponsored by:	National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Information provided by:	National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00200889

Purpose

This study will determine how acupuncture affects human brain activity.

Condition	Intervention	Phase
Healthy	Procedure: Manual acupuncture Procedure: Electro-acupuncture Procedure: Sensory stimulation	Phase I

U.S. FDA Resources

Study Type:	Interventional
Study Design:	Treatment, Randomized, Single Blind, Placebo Control, Crossover Assignment, Efficacy Study

Official Title:	Exploring Neurocircuitry of Acupuncture Action With fMRI

Further study details as provided by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM):

Primary Outcome Measures:

Brain activity during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Estimated Enrollment:	60
Study Start Date:	May 2005
Estimated Study Completion Date:	May 2009
Estimated Primary Completion Date:	May 2009 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Detailed Description:

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice involving the insertion of needles into specific parts of the body for therapeutic purposes. Although the practice has become more popular in the West, the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture have not been thoroughly examined. This study will determine how acupuncture affects human brain activity, particularly during deqi, a unique sensation experienced during acupuncture that is considered essential to the clinical effectiveness of the practice.

This study will comprise 2 clinic visits. At Visit 1, participants will be randomly assigned to receive manual acupuncture; electro-acupuncture, which passes an electrical current through the needles; or some type of sensory stimulation. At Visit 2, participants will again be randomly assigned to receive one of the three interventions. As participants receive their assigned intervention, they will undergo functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans. Participants will also have their heart rate monitored during the brain scans.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:	18 Years to 55 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:	Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Right-handed

Exclusion Criteria:

Any condition contraindicating an fMRI brain scan
Any neurological or psychiatric disorders
Any pain syndromes

Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00200889

Contacts


Contact: Vitaly Napadow, PhD	617-724-3402	vitaly@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu

Locations


United States, Massachusetts
	Massachusetts General Hospital	Recruiting
	Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
	Contact: Lauren LaCount llacount@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu
	Principal Investigator: Vitaly Napadow, PhD

Sponsors and Collaborators

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

Investigators


Principal Investigator:	Vitaly Napadow, PhD	Harvard University

More Information

Responsible Party:	Massachusetts General Hospital Dept. of Radiology ( Vitaly Napadow, Ph.D. )
Study ID Numbers:	K01 AT002166-01
First Received:	September 13, 2005
Last Updated:	February 27, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00200889
Health Authority:	United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM):

Acupuncture

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional

Brain Mapping

normal volunteers

Study placed in the following topic categories:

Healthy

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 15, 2008