Electroencephalogram measurement: An investigation into the effects of laser acupuncture at acupoints on brain

Abstract

Recently, there has been increasing trend in the use of laser therapy at points of acupuncture as an alternative method to metal needles. Many researchers conducted the number of studies on laser acupuncture. Most of them used many kinds of laser with different wavelengths, or power in order to show the impacts on healing pains. Besides, many clinical doctors applied laser therapy for a variety of treatment purposes. However, it still lacks evidence to prove the actual mechanism, and the effects on brain in detail. In this study, the authors aim to investigate how laser acupuncture at acupoints effects on human brain by measuring the electroencephalogram (EEG) signal. To carry out the research, the authors initially are going to use acupuncture needles at acupoints on twenty participants. Then, the laser therapy will be replaced in order to compare its effect to the previous one on human brain. During the experiments, Alice 5 machine is used for collecting and analyzing the EEG signal. Finally, the authors expect that when the acupoints are reached by a laser light, the response of brain will be recognized with producing the same EEG signals with the acupuncture needles.