Figure 1. The schematic diagram of tactile-motor procedures during acupuncture manipulation.

The schematic diagram for the feedback loop underlying tactile-motor procedures in the process of acupuncture. The patients’ concurrent bodily response to each round of needling manipulation is transmitted to acupuncturist through the fine needle. The acupuncturist distinguishes the subtle difference between the actual tactile sensation and the expected one. The tactile discrimination is followed by motor planning procedure in which the next-step plan of method of needling manipulation, frequency and intensity of rotation is generated. Then, the postural configuration from the motor plan is executed as acupuncturist’s fine and coordinated finger movement over the needles. This feedback loop is repeated until the target response is obtained.