Heart Rate andElectroencephalogram Changes on P } anta Pedis Caused by Finger Acupressure

Prcliminary cxpcriments wcre carricd out te investigate the feasibility of using an electroencephalogram and heart rates to evaluate the eencacy of finger aeupressure on thc key points of planta pedis (both soles). Continuous electroencephalograms were recorded from 19 eLectrodes based on the International 10-20 electrode placernent systern on 22 university students (21± 2.3 years). Spectral power changes were obtained at each electrodc site. The power of the a, frequency range (8-10Hz) increased slightly during acupressure although no statistical significance was observcd while heart rates decrcascd in all subjects (p<O.05). Cerebral cortex asymmetry in the spectral power changes was not clearly observed during the right and left sole acupressure, This prelirninary study suggests that a classificatien ofsubjects is necessary in understanding brain wave data during acupressure on soles. J PIrysiol Anthrppol 26(2): 257-25P, 2007http:11www.jstage.jst.go,jp/browseljpa2 [DOI/ 10.2114ijpa2.26.257] Keywerds: acupressure, planta pedis, electroencephalogram, heart rate, spectral powcr dcpth of anesthesia using eleetroencephalographic indexes (Litscher, 2004; DulLenkopfet al., 2004). This paper describes the evaluation method of acupressure effects on the key points of both soles by using heart rates and an clcctroenccphalogram (EEG). The changcs in the spectral power ofbrain waves and heart rates are compared.