Acupuncture linked to improved memory and test taking, reduced anxiety

Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies; ScienceCodex

A new study in The Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies demonstrates acupuncture's benefits for memory, text performance and reduced anxiety. In an experiment with 90 undergraduate students, half of the population received acupuncture and the other had points swabbed and touched, but did not experience an acupuncture treatment.

Next, all students took a memory test. Those who had received acupuncture scored 9.5% higher on the measure of "keeping items in memory" and made 36% fewer processing errors.

The students also took a State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and those students who had received the real acupuncture treatment reported significantly less anxiety than those who received merely swabs. Though other studies have linked acupuncture with improved memory for people already experiencing memory impairment, this study is innovative in that it suggests that these benefits can begin in as little as one treatment and can improve performance in otherwise healthy subjects.