# Mechanistic Studies on video guided acupuncture imagery treatment of pain

> **NIH NIH R33** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2020 · $758,666

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
The use of imagery to treat illness is one of the oldest medical practices. Nevertheless, the
mechanism of the treatment remains unknown. Recent brain imaging studies suggest that underlying
the functional nature of mental imagery may be the overlapping neurocognitive operations that
support imagination, perception, and action. Acupuncture is an ancient invasive therapeutic method.
Previous studies have shown that both the experience of acupuncture needle stimulation and the
visualization of acupuncture needle stimulation can provoke overlapping brain activation, which
suggests that visualizing or imagining acupuncture may achieve therapeutic effects through a brain
pathway similar to actual acupuncture treatment.
This application will investigate the underlying brain mechanisms of video-guided acupuncture
imagery treatment (VGAIT), a novel mind-body treatment modality. In this treatment, subjects will
watch a video of acupuncture previously administered on their own bodies and imagine this prior
treatment being concurrently applied. In the R61 phase, using a crossover design and functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we will investigate the cortical fMRI signal changes and resting
state functional connectivity changes evoked by 1) VGAIT, 2) VGAIT control condition (subjects will
watch a video of a cotton swab touching specific points on their bodies and imagine it being
concurrently applied), 3) verum acupuncture, and 4) sham acupuncture administered on healthy
subjects. In the R33 phase, knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients will be recruited and randomized to one
of four treatment groups for one month: 1) VGAIT, 2) a VGAIT control condition, 3) verum
acupuncture, and 4) sham acupuncture. We will investigate the fMRI signal changes and resting state
functional connectivity changes evoked by the different conditions.
This project will facilitate the development of new mind-body intervention methods that can directly
benefit patients suffering from chronic pain. It would be especially beneficial to elderly and disabled
patients who have limited access to acupuncture and medical care and could benefit from self-
administered, at-home treatment following acupuncture treatment sessions. Most importantly, a
comparative investigation of imagery acupuncture, real acupuncture, and sham acupuncture will
deepen our understanding of mind-body interaction, imagery treatment, acupuncture, and pain
management.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9993282
- **Project number:** 5R33AT009310-05
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** JIAN KONG
- **Activity code:** R33 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $758,666
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-15 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9993282

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9993282, Mechanistic Studies on video guided acupuncture imagery treatment of pain (5R33AT009310-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9993282. Licensed CC0.

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