The theory of the "Three Phases of moxibustion sensation", originating from ZHOU Meisheng's Moxibustion Cord, summarizes the clinical transmission process of moxibustion sensation into three phases: initial sensation, diffusion, and conduction. Inspired by this theory, the authors analyze factors affecting moxibustion sensation-including moxibustion temperature, location, dose, and technique-and summarize its guiding role in clinical practice. It is proposed that in clinical application, the generation pattern of the initial sensation phase can be used to judge the immediate efficacy of moxibustion and adjust treatment locations accordingly; the diffusion pattern of the diffusion phase can help assess individual moxibustion dose to ensure optimal therapeutic effects; and the conduction phase not only indicates the endpoint of moxibustion therapy but can also reveal hidden lesions and deeper pathological causes in patients. In addition, due to differences in patient constitution and disease state, the manifestation of moxibustion sensation may not always strictly follow the pattern of the "Three Phases", requiring careful clinical differentiation.
Moxibustion/methods* ; Humans ; Sensation ; Acupuncture Points

OBJECTIVES: To explore the manifestations of sensory hypersensitivity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and individuals with subclinical autistic traits. METHODS: From September 2021 to April 2023, interviews were conducted on 18 college students with high levels of autistic traits and sensory hypersensitivity selected using the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (as subclinical group). Interviews were also conducted on the parents of 11 children with ASD aged 6-13 years selected using the intensity sampling method (as clinical group). Qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis were performed on the interview texts to investigate the scenarios and impact of sensory hypersensitivity and coping strategies in the two groups. RESULTS: The Autism Spectrum Quotient score was significantly positively correlated with sensory hypersensitivity (r=0.504, P<0.001; n=225). Sensory modalities that triggered sensitive reactions were similar in the subclinical and clinical groups, with auditory hypersensitivity being the most prominent. Sensory hypersensitivity had significant negative impact on emotional wellbeing, cognitive ability, physical health, interpersonal relationships, and general adaptive functioning. These dimensions were interconnected, culminating in a holistic experience. Avoidance was the most commonly used coping mechanism for both groups (16 subclinical participants mentioned it 44 times; 8 clinical participants mentioned it 40 times). The clinical group required more support and help from their caregivers (18 times), while the subclinical group used more proactive coping strategies (e.g., facing sensitive scenarios, distracting attention) to alleviate the negative impact (51 times). CONCLUSIONS Sensory hypersensitivity is a common manifestation across the broad ASD phenotype, posing negative effects on multiple aspects of their lives. There is an urgent need for social tolerance and acceptance as well as the development of effective intervention measures.
Humans ; Child ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Adaptation, Psychological ; Autistic Disorder/psychology* ; Sensation Disorders/etiology* ; Qualitative Research

The insula is a complex brain region central to the orchestration of taste perception, interoception, emotion, and decision-making. Recent research has shed light on the intricate connections between the insula and other brain regions, revealing the crucial role of this area in integrating sensory, emotional, and cognitive information. The unique anatomical position and extensive connectivity allow the insula to serve as a critical hub in the functional network of the brain. We summarize its role in interoceptive and exteroceptive sensory processing, illustrating insular function as a bridge connecting internal and external experiences. Drawing on recent research, we delineate the insular involvement in emotional processes, highlighting its implications in psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and addiction. We further discuss the insular contributions to cognition, focusing on its significant roles in time perception and decision-making. Collectively, the evidence underscores the insular function as a dynamic interface that synthesizes diverse inputs into coherent subjective experiences and decision-making processes. Through this review, we hope to highlight the importance of the insula as an interface between sensation, emotion, and cognition, and to inspire further research into this fascinating brain region.
Humans ; Emotions/physiology* ; Cognition/physiology* ; Insular Cortex/physiology* ; Sensation/physiology* ; Animals ; Interoception/physiology* ; Cerebral Cortex/physiology* ; Decision Making/physiology*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of meridian sinew releasing technique on moxibustion sensation of heat-sensitive moxibustion in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of 60 patients with KOA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases each group. In the observation group, on the basis of the meridian sinew releasing technique, moxibustion sensation exploration method was applied at Dubi (ST 35) area on the affected side. In the control group, moxibustion sensation exploration method was applied at Dubi (ST 35) area on the affected side. The meridian sinew releasing technique was performed for 20 min each time, the moxibustion sensation exploration method was performed for 60 min each time, once a day for 3 days. The excitation rate, latency, duration time and intensity value of moxibustion sensation of heat-sensitive moxibustion were recorded on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days of exploration in the two groups. RESULTS: The excitation rate on the 3rd day of exploration and total excitation rate in the observation group were higher than the control group (P<0.05). On the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days of exploration, the latency of moxibustion sensation of heat-sensitive moxibustion in the observation group was shorter than the control group (P<0.05), the duration time was longer than the control group (P<0.05), and the intensity value was higher than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Meridian sinew releasing technique could improve the excitation rate of moxibustion sensation of heat-sensitive moxibustion in patients with KOA, shorten the latency, prolong the duration time, and improve the intensity value.
Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/therapy* ; Hot Temperature ; Meridians ; Moxibustion ; Sensation

Methcathinone (MCAT) belongs to the designer drugs called synthetic cathinones, which are abused worldwide for recreational purposes. It has strong stimulant effects, including enhanced euphoria, sensation, alertness, and empathy. However, little is known about how MCAT modulates neuronal activity in vivo. Here, we evaluated the effect of MCAT on neuronal activity with a series of functional approaches. C-Fos immunostaining showed that MCAT increased the number of activated neurons by 6-fold, especially in sensory and motor cortices, striatum, and midbrain motor nuclei. In vivo single-unit recording and two-photon Ca²⁺ imaging revealed that a large proportion of neurons increased spiking activity upon MCAT administration. Notably, MCAT induced a strong de-correlation of population activity and increased trial-to-trial reliability, specifically during a natural movie stimulus. It improved the information-processing efficiency by enhancing the single-neuron coding capacity, suggesting a cortical network mechanism of the enhanced perception produced by psychoactive stimulants.
Mice ; Animals ; Reproducibility of Results ; Neurons ; Sensation ; Perception

Resection of oral and maxillofacial tumors is often accompanied by the inferior alveolar nerve neurectomy, resulting in abnormal sensation in lower lip. It is generally believed that spontaneous sensory recovery in this nerve injury is difficult. However, during our follow-up, patients with inferior alveolar nerve sacrifice showed different degrees of lower lip sensory recovery. In this study, a prospective cohort study was conducted to demonstrate this phenomenon and analyze the factors influencing sensory recovery. A mental nerve transection model of Thy1-YFP mice and tissue clearing technique were used to explore possible mechanisms in this process. Gene silencing and overexpression experiments were then conducted to detect the changes in cell morphology and molecular markers. In our follow-up, 75% of patients with unilateral inferior alveolar nerve neurectomy had complete sensory recovery of the lower lip 12 months postoperatively. Patients with younger age, malignant tumors, and preservation of ipsilateral buccal and lingual nerves had a shorter recovery time. The buccal nerve collateral sprouting compensation was observed in the lower lip tissue of Thy1-YFP mice. ApoD was demonstrated to be involved in axon growth and peripheral nerve sensory recovery in the animal model. TGF-β inhibited the expression of STAT3 and the transcription of ApoD in Schwann cells through Zfp423. Overall, after sacrificing the inferior alveolar nerve, the collateral compensation of the ipsilateral buccal nerve could innervate the sensation. And this process was regulated by TGF-β-Zfp423-ApoD pathway.
Mice ; Animals ; Lip/innervation* ; Prospective Studies ; Mandibular Nerve/pathology* ; Sensation/physiology* ; Trigeminal Nerve Injuries/pathology*

This paper collects professor ZHOU Mei-sheng's academic thought, "three-phases moxibustion sensation" and expounds its clinical value. Proposed by professor ZHOU, in accordance with the occurrence and development characteristics of the moxibustion propagated sensation, three time phases of moxibustion propagated sensation are divided, i.e. directional conduction phase (the first time phase), effect onset phase (the second time phase), and descending suspension and along-meridian re-transmission phase (the third time phase). In terms of the different characteristics among these three time phases, the clinical therapeutic regimens are designed accordingly. It provides a novel approach to the clinical application of moxibustion.
Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; Meridians ; Moxibustion ; Sensation

Taste is one of the important factors in the design of oral drug preparations. Polyphenols are the secondary metabolites produced in the growth process of Chinese medicine with a variety of physiological activities. However, astringency perceived from polyphenols tastes uncomfortable. As one of the true taste of Chinese medicine, astringency with drying, rough, and wrinkled sensation, seriously affects the texture of Chinese medicine and the compliance of patients. Due to the universality of polyphenolic astringency in Chinese medicine and the weakness of modern research, this study systematically reviewed and summarized the latest research on the mechanism of polyphenolic astringency, the astringency evaluation method, and the astringency-mitigation technology. Through comprehensively analyzing the quantification methods, such as sensory evaluation, animal preference evaluation, chemical evaluation, bionic evaluation, and polyphenol-protein interaction evaluation, the direction of overall astringency assessment with "unified dimension" was proposed. Since the characteristics of Chinese medicine and the mechanism of polyphenolic astringency did not reach a consensus, this study proposed the idea of astringency mitigation suitable for Chinese medicine. This study is intended to deepen the understanding of astringency associated with Chinese medicine, and establish a real and objective astringency evaluation method for Chinese medicine, thus promoting the technique of astringency mitigation of polyphenolic Chinese medicine preparations from trial and error to science.
Animals ; Astringents ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Taste ; Polyphenols ; Sensation

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on postoperative pain in patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease, and explored the relationship between the postoperative analgesic effect of acupuncture and the sensation of acupuncture experienced by the patients. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 97 patients who had undergone an operation by the same surgeon due to degenerative lumbar disease. These patients were divided into acupuncture group (n = 32), patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) group (n = 27), and oral analgesia group (n = 38) according to the different postoperative analgesic methods. During their hospitalization, patients completed daily evaluations of their pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and injection times of supplemental meperidine were recorded. Also, the Chinese version of the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (C-MASS) was used in the acupuncture group. RESULTS: Each of the three treatment groups showed significant reductions in postoperative pain, as shown by reduced VAS scores. The acupuncture group, however, had less rebound pain (P < 0.05) than the other two groups. Both the acupuncture and PCA groups experienced acute analgesic effects that were superior to those in the oral analgesia group. In addition, the higher the C-MASS index on the second day after surgery, the lower the VAS score on the fourth day after surgery. There was also a significant difference in the "dull pain" in the acupuncture sensation. CONCLUSION The results demonstrated that acupuncture was beneficial for postoperative pain and discomfort after simple surgery for degenerative spinal disease. It is worth noting that there was a disproportionate relevance between the patient's acupuncture sensation and the improvement of pain VAS score.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Analgesia/methods* ; Analgesics/therapeutic use* ; Consensus ; Humans ; Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy* ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensation

Sensation