INHIBITORY EFFECT OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON THE BLINK REFLEX

• Published in: The Journal of The Japan Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 36 - 41
• Main Authors: YAMAGUCHI, Y., TSUJIMOTO, T., YASUMO, W., NISHIGORI, A., KAWAMOTO, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion 1980; 公益社団法人 全日本鍼灸学会
• ISSN: 0546-1367; 2185-9434
• DOI: 10.11525/jjsam1955.29.3_36

Effects of electroacupuncture upon the blink reflex were examined in fourteen healthy subjects. The blink reflex was elicited by single pulse stimulation to the supraorbital nerve. The reflex EMG's of the orbicularis oculi muscle, consisting of an early component (R1) with about 10m sec latency and a late one (R2) with about 30 msec. latency, were recorded on the cathode ray oscilloscope. Single pulse electroacupuncture stimulation was administered at the acupuncture, “Hogu”. Such a stimulation inhibited R2 components of the blink reflex. The inhibition reached its maximum about 100msec. after the electroacupuncture and lasted 1-2sec. Sensory threshold acupuncture stimulation also produced the inhibition. Painful electroacupuncture always greatly iinhibited R2 components of the blink reflex. Acupuncture analgesia-inducing mechanism was discussed in the light of the above data.