Electroacupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zhongwan (CV 12) modulates functional connectivity of the brain network in healthy volunteers

• Published in: Zhēncì yánjiū Vol. 36; no. 5; p. 366
• Main Authors: Fang, Ji-liang, Hong, Yang, Wang, Xiao-ling, Liu, He-sheng, Wang, Yin, Liu, Jun, Wang, Lei, Xue, Chao, Zhou, Ke-hua, Song, Ming, Liu, Bao-yan, Zhu, Bing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 01.10.2011
• Subjects: Acupuncture Points; Adult; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - physiology; Electroacupuncture; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Nerve Net - physiology; Radiography; Sensation; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1000-0607

To observe the specific brain effects of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zhongwan (CV 12). Twenty-one healthy volunteers were recruited in the present study. Two silver filiform needles were separately inserted into Guanyuan (OV 4) or Zhongwan (CV 12), and manipulated with uniform reducing-reinforcing method to induce "Deqi". fMRI scan was performed before needling, during needle retention, EA stimulation, and post-EA. Data of fMRI was analyzed by using software SPM 2. The volunteer subjective needling sensations were recorded. The activation, deactivation, short-distance and long-distance functional connectivity maps of different cerebral regions were analyzed by using whole brain correlation analysis. Comparison between the two acupoints showed that fullness feeling was stronger in CV 4 than in CV 12. EA at CV 4 and CV 12 induced a similar stronger and prevalent deactivation in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulated cortex (ACO). The deactivation of the A