Investigation of Electrical Responses to Acupuncture Stimulation: The Effect of Electrical Grounding and Insulation Conditions

Experimental set-up to measure MEP for acupuncture stimulation: (a) non-insulated and (b) insulated acupuncture stimulation.

MEP changes for non-insulated acupuncture stimulations under the following conditions: (a) neither operator nor subject electrically grounded; (b) subject only electrically grounded; (c) operator only electrically grounded; and (d) both operator and subject electrically grounded.

MEP changes for insulated acupuncture stimulations under the following conditions: (a) neither operator nor subject electrically grounded; (b) subject only electrically grounded; (c) operator only electrically grounded; and (d) both operator and subject electrically grounded.

Comparison of average MEPs (n = 10) for non-insulated and insulated acupuncture stimulation under various electrical grounding conditions. GND = electrical ground.

Equivalent electric circuit model between the operator and subject: C1 is the capacitance at an acupuncture point of the subject; R1 is the resistance at an acupuncture point of the subject; R2 is the skin resistance at an acupuncture point of the subject; C2 is the subcutaneous capacitance at an acupuncture point of the operator; R4 is the subcutaneous resistance at an acupuncture point of the operator; and R3 is the skin resistance at an acupuncture point of the operator.