针刺作为一种有效的辅助治疗手段已被广泛应用于临床。近年来对针刺的镇痛作用及对功能性疾病的调节作用研究颇多

除应用传统电生理学方法外

还采用了分子生物学、免疫组织化学、脑功能成像等先进的技术来探讨针刺对脑的经典神经递质、神经激素、神经元代谢等的影响

为针刺的中枢调节机制提供了理论基础。本文主要就针刺的中枢作用及方法学等方面加以讨论Acupuncture has been being used widely in clinical treatment of many types of diseases as an alternative or complementary therapy. In addition

researches on the mechanisms of acupuncture in regulating functional activities of the body have achieved abundant valuable results. In the present paper

the authors review some new progresses of acupuncture research from 1) effect of acupuncture on central neurotransmitters; 2) acupuncture stimulation and changes of gene expression; and 3) acupuncture stimulation and changes of central images. In the scientific researches

many traditional and advanced biomedical techniques as electrophysiological

molecular biological

immunohistochemical methods

cerebrofunctional imaging

etc. have been adopted at the same time. Results of these studies provided abundant experimental evidence for acupuncture induced regulation effects on the brain. This article focuses on the cerebral effect and methodology of acupuncture.