Completed

Effect of Acupuncture on Human Brain Activity

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What is being tested

Acupuncture

Procedure
Who is being recruted

Healthy

See all eligibility criteria

How is the trial designed

Other Study

Interventional
Study Start: July 2002

See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Last updated: January 25, 2008
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner
Study start date: July 1, 2002Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to examine the way acupuncture affects brain function. Acupuncture is emerging as an important procedure in complementary medicine. Its mechanism of action remains unclear, but research suggests that its effects are mediated through a widely connected network that is involved in the regulation of mood, behavior, and function of physiological systems. This study will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor the effects of manual acupuncture on the brain function of study participants. Participants in this study will undergo acupuncture one needle at a time. Researchers will then ask participants questions about how they feel and will compare the sensations reported by participants to their images of brain response.

Official TitleModulatory Effect of Acupuncture on Human Brain Activity 
Principal SponsorNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Last updated: January 25, 2008
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

How participants are assigned to different groups/arms
In this clinical study, participants are assigned to groups based on specific criteria, such as their medical history or a doctor's recommendation. This approach ensures that treatments are given to those who may benefit the most, based on known factors.

Other Ways to Assign Participants
Randomized allocation: Participants are assigned randomly, like flipping a coin, to ensure fairness and reduce bias.
None (Single-arm trial): If the study has only one group, all participants receive the same treatment, and no allocation is needed.

How treatments are given to participants
In this study, all participants receive the same treatment. This approach is often used to evaluate the effects of a single intervention without comparing it to another.

Other Ways to Assign Treatments
Parallel assignment: Participants are split into separate groups, each receiving a different treatment.
Cross-over assignment: Participants switch between treatments during the study.
Factorial assignment: Participants receive different combinations of treatments.
Sequential assignment: Participants receive treatments one after another in a specific order, possibly based on individual responses.
Other assignment: Treatment assignment does not follow a standard or predefined design.

How the interventions assigned to participants is kept confidential
Everyone involved in the study knows which treatment is being given. This is typically used when it's not possible or necessary to hide the treatment details from participants or researchers.

Other Ways to Mask Information
Single-blind: Participants do not know which treatment they are receiving, but researchers do.
Double-blind: Neither participants nor researchers know which treatment is given.
Triple-blind: Participants, researchers, and outcome assessors do not know which treatment is given.
Quadruple-blind: Participants, researchers, outcome assessors, and care providers all do not know which treatment is given.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria
Any sexBiological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.
Healthy volunteers allowedIf individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.
Conditions
Pathology
Healthy
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * In good physical health

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.
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CompletedNo study centers