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Brain science is the "ultimate territory" for human beings to understand the nature. In the present paper, the authors introduce the current state of brain science research projects in the USA, European countries, Japan and China. In recent years, with the continuous innovations of technologies in brain imaging, biosensors, human-computer interaction and big data, the brain science has become an important frontier field with interdisciplinarity and a focus of science and technology strategies in various countries. As a scientific and technological resource with original advantages in China, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is abundant in knowledge of brain, almost covering all kinds of encephalopathy in modern medicine. At present, TCM is increasingly becoming an effective tool to conquer mental and nervous diseases. With the intersection and penetration of multi-disciplines, an increasing close association between the traditional theory of TCM about prevention and treatment of encephalopathy and modern basic biological research appears, and new ideas, new technologies and new achievements have constantly been coming out, particularly in the field of acupuncture medicine. In the present historical juncture when the development of science and technology in China is changing from the "follower" to the "parallel runner", even the "top runner" in some fields, the progress of brain science research in TCM will make enormous contributions to explore brain disease and exploit cutting-edge technologies of TCM, as well as accelerate the modernization of TCM.

The design of "sham acupuncture" is necessary in clinical trials of acupuncture for confirming its effectiveness in the treatment of different disorders. The authors of the present paper made a comprehensive analysis on "sham acupuncture"or "placebo acupuncture" in clinical trials of acupuncture therapy in western countries from 1) the definition and background of sham acupuncture, 2) current state of acupuncture clinical trials with sham acupuncture design in different countries, 3) current situations of acupuncture clinical trials with sham acupuncture design in Germany, and 4) current state of large sample, randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture therapy with sham acupuncture design in other western countries. The authors of the present paper also make an analysis on the developing trends of acupuncture clinical trials with sham acupuncture design and put forward some problems existing in current acupuncture researches.