循经感传行进过程中常伴有一些特殊的机能现象。这些现象虽然少见

但颇值得重视。湖南中医学院和山东中医学院各曾报道过1例循经感传可以诱发睡眠的现象。1978年我们在针灸治疗中也观察到2例循经感传上达头面部

即可诱发睡眠的现象

并对其中1例作了比较系统的观察。进一步This paper reports a special sleep phenomenon induced by propagated sensati- on along channels(PSC)as it reached the head in two subjects and a series of experiments were performed on the one who was willing to cooperate with the observer.The auther’s attention was concentrated on the characteristics of the sleep induced by PSC and the influence of blocking of PSC on the effe- ct of acupuncture.Electroencephalogram(EEG)

electromyogram(EMG)of mentalis muscles

eletronystagram(ENG)and pueumogram were taken as indi- ces.A total of 11 experimental observations were made on the Gallbladder

Stomach

Urinary Bladder

and Large Intestine Channels.The course of PSC were basically coincident with the corresponding channel course.PSC could be blocked by mechanical pressure.Puncturing Hegu

PSC could reach the head every time when Hegu was puncture

but stopped at the affected areas when the acu- points on the lower extrimities were punctured.When the needling manipulation was stopped

PSC receded to the acupoints stimulated.when PSC reached Yintang after puncturing Hegu for 3 minutes

the patient yawned

shed tears. Her upper eyelids dropped and she finally fell asleep.on the 32nd minutes after Hegu had been acupunctured

the patient couldn’t be awaked by the sonorous noise of shutting the door.After an hour

the patient was still in deep sleep and could not be awaked even by pricking her hand intensely with a sharp needle. Before acupuncture

there was predominance of the high frequency and low amplitude wave of 30 c/s and 18 c/s in EEG

During sleep

the pattern and the amplitude of EEG were similar to those before acupuncture

There was some fluctuation in density and amplitude of EMG of mentalis muscles but no nystagmus appeared.The depth and the frequeucy of respiration decreased sli- ghtly as compared with that of preacupuncture.If Shousanli was pressed by a spring compressor before the needle was inserted into Hegu

PSC was blocked completely at Shousanli and couldn’t reach the head.After manipulating the needle for 12 minutes

the needle was withdrawn and the pressure relieved.In the course of 40 minutes observation

no sighs of sleep appeared and the record showed mainly low amplitude and high frequency as before without marked difference in EEG.As a whole

the pattern of EMG

ENG

and pneumogram were similar to those before acupuncture

except for a transient increase or irregularity during the insertion and manipulation of the needle when the acupoints on the lower extrimities were punctured

PSC stopped at the loins.In this condition the patient didn’t fall asleep.No changes appeared in EEG

EMG and ENG before or after acupuncture.Besides

the variation of indices me- ntioned above was also observed during natural sleep

and the results were taken as controls.During natural sleep

a widespread theta rhythms

vertex spindle of 14 c/s

slow waves with high amplitude appeared on EEG gradually. After the patient had slept for 20 minutes

the tracing of EMG from mentalis muscle became a straight line

only a few discharges appeared on occassion nyslagmus disappeared;respiration kept regular and steady

but slower and more superficial than before.The results revealed that the sleep induced by PSC was different from the natural sleep in this patient.It was characterized by deep sleep in behaviour but awakening on EEG.There was a dissociation of behaviour of sleep from its charcteristics on EEG.It differed from both slow wave sleep and paradoxical sleep. The results mentioned above demonstrated that in the given subjects whe- ther the sleep could be brought out by acupuncture all depended on the PSC arriving at the head or not.Why did the patient’s state been transformed from“awaken”to“asleep”as PSC arrived at the head?What was the way by which such a transformation was brought about?At present

these questi- ons still can not be explained appropriately

further study is necessary.Ne- rvetheless

some useful clue to the elucidation of the mechanism of PSC mi- ght be found by the investigation of such a special phenomenon.