Dear Editor Despite remarkable advances in our understanding of brain functions,the neural substrates and correlates of consciousness remain unclear[1].It has been argued that classical physics is intrinsically incapa...Dear Editor Despite remarkable advances in our understanding of brain functions,the neural substrates and correlates of consciousness remain unclear[1].It has been argued that classical physics is intrinsically incapable of explaining the holistic aspects of consciousness.展开更多
Propagated sensation along meridians （PSM） is a phenomenon that a sensation moves along meridians during stimulation of an acupoint. PSM has an appearance rate of 1.3% among people and have characteristics of low sp...Propagated sensation along meridians （PSM） is a phenomenon that a sensation moves along meridians during stimulation of an acupoint. PSM has an appearance rate of 1.3% among people and have characteristics of low speed, going toward afflicted sites and being blocked by physical pressure which is difficult to be explained by known neural and blood transmission. Volume transmission （VT） is a widespread mode of intercellular communication in the central nervous system that occurs in the extracellular fluid and in the cerebrospinal fluid. VT signals moves from source to target cells via energy gradients leading to diffusion and convection （flow） which is slow, long distance and much less space filling. VT channel diffuse forming a plexus in the extracellular space with two parameters of volume fraction and tortuosity. Some experiments showed an information transmission between adjacent and distant acupoints along meridians cross spinal segments. This process is a cross-excitation between peripheral nerve terminals which is related to nonsynaptic transmission. Some neurotransmitters or neuropeptides such as glutamate, adenosine triphosphate （ATP） and neuropeptide such as substance P, neurokinin A and calcitonin gene-related peptide relate with the cross-excitation which can be regards as VT signals. Comparing the characteristics of PSM and VT, many similar aspects can be found leading to an assumption that PSM is a process of VT in peripheral tissue along meridians. The reason why VT signals transmit along meridians is that the meridian is rich in interstitial fluid under the condition of low hydraulic resistance which has been proven experimentally. According to Darcy＇s law which descript the flow of interstitial fluid and conservation equation, interstitial fluid will move toward meridians and flow along meridians that restrict the VT signals within the channel and accelerate the flow according to Fick＇s diffusion law. During the process, a degranulation of histamine from mast cells happens on the route which can expand capillary and increase the blood perfusion and interstitial fluid which had already been observed. The mechanism of PSM is featured by alternative axon reflex （wired transmission, WT） and VT in peripheral tissue along meridians, sending simultaneously a continuous sensate signal to control nerve system which can be felt like a PSM.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31640034)the Sci-Tech Support Plan of Hubei Province, China (2014BEC086)the Research Team Fund of the South-Central University for Nationalities, China (XTZ15014)
文摘Dear Editor Despite remarkable advances in our understanding of brain functions,the neural substrates and correlates of consciousness remain unclear[1].It has been argued that classical physics is intrinsically incapable of explaining the holistic aspects of consciousness.
基金Supported by National Key Basic Research Program(973 No. 2010CB530507)National Nature Science Foundation(No. 81173206)
文摘Propagated sensation along meridians （PSM） is a phenomenon that a sensation moves along meridians during stimulation of an acupoint. PSM has an appearance rate of 1.3% among people and have characteristics of low speed, going toward afflicted sites and being blocked by physical pressure which is difficult to be explained by known neural and blood transmission. Volume transmission （VT） is a widespread mode of intercellular communication in the central nervous system that occurs in the extracellular fluid and in the cerebrospinal fluid. VT signals moves from source to target cells via energy gradients leading to diffusion and convection （flow） which is slow, long distance and much less space filling. VT channel diffuse forming a plexus in the extracellular space with two parameters of volume fraction and tortuosity. Some experiments showed an information transmission between adjacent and distant acupoints along meridians cross spinal segments. This process is a cross-excitation between peripheral nerve terminals which is related to nonsynaptic transmission. Some neurotransmitters or neuropeptides such as glutamate, adenosine triphosphate （ATP） and neuropeptide such as substance P, neurokinin A and calcitonin gene-related peptide relate with the cross-excitation which can be regards as VT signals. Comparing the characteristics of PSM and VT, many similar aspects can be found leading to an assumption that PSM is a process of VT in peripheral tissue along meridians. The reason why VT signals transmit along meridians is that the meridian is rich in interstitial fluid under the condition of low hydraulic resistance which has been proven experimentally. According to Darcy＇s law which descript the flow of interstitial fluid and conservation equation, interstitial fluid will move toward meridians and flow along meridians that restrict the VT signals within the channel and accelerate the flow according to Fick＇s diffusion law. During the process, a degranulation of histamine from mast cells happens on the route which can expand capillary and increase the blood perfusion and interstitial fluid which had already been observed. The mechanism of PSM is featured by alternative axon reflex （wired transmission, WT） and VT in peripheral tissue along meridians, sending simultaneously a continuous sensate signal to control nerve system which can be felt like a PSM.
