Objective To observe the characteristics of needling sensation of "Deqi"(feelings of soreness

numbness

distending and heaviness

SNDH) by using positron emission tomography(PET) based on changes of glucose metabolism in diffe-rent functional brain areas.Methods Eighteen normal volunteers [9 men and 9 women

mean age(23.23±3.32) years] were randomly divided into control

Waiguan(SJ 5) and non-acupoint groups(n=6 in each group).SJ 5 and non-acupoint(the midpoint between SJ 5 and the running course of the Small Intestine Meridian on the right forearm) were punctured by using a sterilized filiform needle.PET scan of the brain began 40 min after intravenous 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose(FDG) injection(0.11 mCi/kg body weight

left opisthenar vein).Needling sensations including "Deqi"(n=5)

tingling(n=5) and no-apparently-specific-feeling(NASF) were acquired by acupuncture stimulation and grouped.The needling sensations were evaluated by using Visual Analog Scale(VAS).The acquired image data of different needling-sensation groups were analyzed using SPM 2.0 software in the Matlab Platform.Results After receiving acupuncture stimulation of SJ 5

5 volunteers in the Waiguan(SJ 5) group experienced fee-lings of SNDH

with the mean VAS score being 4.23±1.50

and 5 volunteers of the non-acupoint group had a tingling feeling

with the mean VAS score being 5.73±2.40.The VAS score of the tingling group was significantly higher than that of SNDH group(P<0.05).Compared with the NASF control group

the activated cerebral areas were Brodmann area(BA) 7

13

20

22

39

42 and BA 45 in the SNDH group

mainly involving the left temporal lobe

superior temporal gyrus

etc.and being obviously different to those of the control group(P<0.001

k>10 voxels).The activated cerebral areas in the tingling group were BA 18

19

22

24

25

32

36

40 and BA 45

predominantly involving the left limbic lobe

hippocampal gyrus

etc.and being appa-rently different to those of the control group(P<0.001

k>10 voxels).Conclusion Acupuncture of Waiguan(SJ 5) mainly produces feelings of soreness

numbness

distending and heaviness

and the activated cerebral areas mainly involve the left temporal lobe

superior temporal gyrus

etc.;while acupuncture of its neighboring non-acupoint chiefly induces a feeling of tingling in the healthy subjects

and the activated regions predominately involve the left limbic lobe

hippocampal gyrus

etc.