Definition
Plain language
The traditional idea that energy flows along invisible channels in the body.
As stated in the literature
Pre-scientific framework underlying acupuncture that posits channels carrying qi; no anatomical or physiological correlate has been demonstrated.
Also called: meridian, meridians
Why it matters: It is a framing with no anatomical basis that still gets written up in scientific-sounding language, making it a useful test of whether a model notices.
For example, a practitioner may explain a needle placed in the hand as unblocking a channel that runs all the way to the stomach.
Heard on the show
“Claude Sonnet 5 is asked for a meridian-based neuroanatomical mechanism for an acupuncture study.”Episode 240 — Frontier Models Designed Follow-Ups To Fraudulent Papers 93% Of The Time