Hello!
I’d been meaning to compile a list of Dr Napadow’s articles to review - and Linda Stone asked for a some references as well - so he’s what I’ve gathered from his 435 listed publications. The images I’ve included are slides from Napadow's 2014 plenary session I attended - where I first encountered his work. (I don’t believe these are published, so kindly do not share them without Dr Napadow’s permission)
While I’ve focused here on his pain/acupuncture-related research due my interests & the elegance/robustness of these studies (esp the 2021 fibromyalgia publication, below) — Dr Napadow has made significant contributions to the study, elucidation and/or analysis of
CNS processing, modulation and derangements resulting from/related to chronic pain (somatic and visceral pain sources)
the nexus of pain processing and emotional considerations
central nervous system processing of autonomic inputs — central processing of autonomic functions
the default mode network
the placebo effect — pragmatic ways to avoid its confounding research studies, and practical ways to engage it ethically and effectively in clinical practice
the role of microglia in pain processing
the role of Lyrica (pregabalin) in neurochemical and CNS functional connectivity modulation
numerous consensus panel review committees re: neurological research policies, procedures and best practices
As I mentioned, to me, his revelatory work was using fMRI to demonstrate neuroplastic/somatotopic changes re: pain processing for carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS) and fibromyalgia — in the somatosensory cortex and default mode network, respectively. Later, he goes on to demonstrate how acupuncture can rewire these aberrant functional connections
The reason these two are good examples with which to study pain is that CTS is a compression neuropathy, and usually has little psychoemotional overlay — while fibromyalgia has ‘aberrant’ psychoemotional overlay, with pain processing through portions of the insula
The older articles are the more cited ones, some of which are well accepted/foundational
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome & Low Back Pain
Fibromyalgia (FM)
This robust, remarkable & elegant series of experiments demonstrates
neuroplastic changes (primarily) in the right anterior insula correlate with pain improvements during/after acupuncture in FM patients
GABA-ergic / neurotransmitter changes - pre and post acupuncture that complement the functional connectivity changes
robust control for placebo effect-confounders (protocolized electroacupuncture vs mock laser acupuncture)
'Cumulatively, these results allow us to establish a mechanistic model for the role of somatic sensation in acupuncture therapy: somatosensory afference leads to increased (S1) leg-to-aINS [anterior insula] signaling, resulting in increased GABA-ergic inhibition in the aINS [anterior insula], ultimately reducing clinical pain'
Intrinsic brain connectivity in fibromyalgia is associated with chronic pain intensity - 2010
Acupuncture Modulates Resting State Connectivity in Default and Sensorimotor Brain Networks 2008
Effects of electroacupuncture versus manual acupuncture on the human brain as measured by fMRI - 2005
ANS & Central Processing
Evidence for brain glial activation in chronic pain patients
Implications of Placebo and Nocebo Effects for Clinical Practice: Expert Consensus 2020
If you’ve not visited The Society for Acupuncture Research’s website - he’s on the board and I believe he may its co-founder -the group is interested in both clinical/phenomenological and mechanistic investigations of acupuncture’s effects and mechanisms
Hope that makes some sense - and more of his slides are included below - Lynnea
Lynnea Villanova MD | Owner, Kireina Medical PLLC | 116 Chambers St, 4th flr | New York, NY 10007 |917-756-2312