Brain Mechanisms of Acupuncture Treatment in Chronic Low Back Pain

Inclusion Criteria: * Meet the Classification Criteria of the chronic LBP (having low back pain for more than 6 months), as determined by the referring physician. * Subjects must be able to provoke or exacerbate their cLBP using our calibrated exercise-like maneuver. * At least 4/10 clinical pain on the 11-point LBP severity scale on average during the past two weeks prior to enrollment. * At least a 10th grade English-reading level; English can be a second language provided that the patients feel they understand all the questions used in the assessment measures. * Right handed individuals * Must have had a prior evaluation of their low back pain by a health care provider, which may include radiographic studies. Documentation of this evaluation will be obtained from subject's medical record. Exclusion Criteria: * Specific causes of back pain (e.g., cancer, fractures, spinal stenosis, infections) * Complicated back problems (e.g., prior back surgery, medico-legal issues) * Possible contraindications for acupuncture (e.g., coagulation disorders, cardiac pacemakers, pregnancy, seizure disorder), and conditions that might confound treatment effects or interpretation of results (e.g., severe fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis) * Conditions making treatment difficult (e.g., paralysis, psychoses, or other severe psychiatric problems based on the judgment of a physician investigator and/or a T score \>60 on the psychological assessments performed during Session 1) * Prior acupuncture treatment for back pain; 1 year minimum for any other condition. * The intent to undergo surgery during the time of involvement in the study. * History of cardiac, respiratory, or nervous system disease that, in the judgment of a physician investigator, precludes participation in the study because of a heightened potential for adverse outcome (e.g., asthma, claustrophobia) * Presence of any contraindications to MRI scanning (e.g., cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, fear of closed spaces, pregnancy) * Active substance abuse disorders within the last 24 months, based on subject self-report * Unresolved medical legal/disability/workers compensation claims * Radicular knee pain extending below the knee * Use of more than 60 mg morphine equivalent prescription opioids or steroids for pain.