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Neurophysiology of Electroacupuncture Analgesia

  • Chapter
Scientific Bases of Acupuncture

Abstract

In recent years, electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia has been the focus of intense multidisciplinary research. This research has been very productive, leading to the publication of numerous studies that have added to our understanding of the neurophysiology of pain perception and pain modulation. This article will review the results of some of these studies, from which the central roles in pain modulation played by the endorphins and various monoamines (serotonin, in particular) will become apparent. In conclusion, an integrated neurophysiological model of EA analgesia will be proposed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pain Clinic St. Josephs Hospital and Bathurst Pain Clinic, 800 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Canada

    Richard S. S. Cheng

Authors
  1. Richard S. S. Cheng
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Physiology (Faculty of Medicine), Dept. of Zoology (Faculty of Arts and Science), University of Toronto, 25, Harbord St., Toronto, M5S1A1, Ontario, Canada

    Bruce Pomeranz M.D., Ph. D.

  2. Acupuncture Centrum, Goltsteinstrasse 26, D-4000, Düsseldorf, Federal Republic of Germany

    Gabriel Stux M.D.

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© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Cheng, R.S.S. (1989). Neurophysiology of Electroacupuncture Analgesia. In: Pomeranz, B., Stux, G. (eds) Scientific Bases of Acupuncture. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73757-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73757-2_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-19335-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-73757-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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