Heart-brain correlation is an important component of Chinese medicine about the theory of zang-fu organs

which is still valuable for acupuncture clinical practice.Nowadays

increasing evidence supports the close association between the heart-brain axis

central autonomic nerve network and cardiovascular diseases

as well as the extensive regulative effects of acupuncture intervention on the heart-brain axis

functional connectivity of the brain

automatic nerve activities and cardiac functions.Therefore

the authors of the present paper hold that from the viewpoint of the heart-brain relationship

and by combining non-invasive functional brain imaging techniques with the patients' subjective and objective clinical indexes

our researchers will possibly and systematically reveal the underlying central mechanisms of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of chronic stable angina pectoris.However

the concrete biochemical mechanism should be proved via other advanced biological techniques.