Effects of emitted qi on the characteristics of interspike interval of the cerebellar neurons of rats

Author: Liu Guanquan 1//Yang Tsau 1//Yao Yuzhong 1//Zhang Jinmei 1//Ming Huasheng 1//He Jinhong 2
Affiliation:
Dept Physiology, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China [1] //Guangdong Qigong Association, China [2]
Conference/Journal: 3rd Nat Acad Conf on Qigong Science
Date published: 1990
Other: Pages: 39 , Word Count: 406


We have reported that the average firing frequency of the cerebellum neurons in rats can be significantly changed by emitted qi with different 'will.' In order to investigate the mechanism of emitted qi in modulating neuron activities, the present study was undertaken to analyze the characteristics of interspike intervals (ISI) of spontaneous unit activities of cerebellar neurons by means of ISI analysis before and during emitted qi.

Experiments were performed on rats, anesthetized with urethane. The unit activities of the cerebellar neurons were recorded with glass microelectrodes before and during emitted qi. In a total of 16 units the characteristics of ISI before and during emitted qi were analyzed and treated with statistical methods.

1. Increase in frequency of spontaneous unit activities during emitted qi.

9 out of 16 recorded units increased in the averaged firing frequency during emitted qi giving off by the qigong master with 'excitative will' in his mind. The mean value of total interspike interval (MTISI) decreased by 15.3-38.45 ms (P<0.01). The mean value of long interspike interval (MLISI) also decreased from 572.33+-501.04 ms (M+-SD) to 399.65+-383.03 ms (<0.05), but the mean value of short interspike interval (MSISI) had no significant change (32.05+-10.04 ms before emitted qi 35.6+-8.19 ms during emitted qi (P<0.05). The joint interval histogram (JIH) and normalized interspike interval histogram (NISIH) showed that during emitted qi, the distribution of long ISI was relatively convergent, while the position of the peak of short ISI remained unchanged. It can be understood from the result above that emitted qi with 'excitative will' shortens of MLISI, but not the MSISI.

2. Decrease in frequency of spontaneous unit activities during emitted qi given off by the qigong master with 'inhibitory will' in his mind. The MTISI increased by 125.47-580.37 ms (P<0.01). The MLISI increased from 181.91+-127.24 ms to 583.65+-387.03 ms (P<0.05), but the MSISI had no significant change (16.71+-10.66 ms before emitted qi, 21.10+-14.32 ms during emitted qi (P>0.5). Their JIH and NISIH shown that during emitted qi the distribution of long ISI was relatively scattered, but the position of the peak of short ISI remained unchanged. The results show that emitted qi with 'inhibitory will' increases the MLISI, but not the MSISI.

The data obtained suggest that the effects of emitted qi on long ISI and short ISI are different. It is possible that emitted qi changes the average firing frequency of cerebellar neurons by means of changing the long ISI.

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