Brain Connectivity Changes after Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: A Randomized Manual Placebo-Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Integrative Medicine
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Functional brain connectivity research lacks studies on osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).
• Understanding OMT's neurological effects is crucial for integrative healthcare.
• Resting-state fMRI offers insights into brain network dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of OMT on functional brain connectivity in healthy adults.
• To analyze changes in brain network organization following OMT compared to a placebo.
• To assess the temporal dynamics of these changes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 30 healthy adults.
• Participants were randomized into OMT and placebo groups.
• Network analysis methods assessed brain connectivity at baseline, immediately after, and three days post-treatment.

Main Results:

• OMT increased information flow influence in the Right Precentral Gyrus immediately after treatment.
• Decreased centrality in the Left Caudate was observed three days post-OMT.
• OMT altered neighborhood connectivity in the Left Amygdala and Left Middle Temporal Gyrus, with subsequent increases in Left Amygdala and Vermis-III functional interactions.

Conclusions:

• OMT induces significant, time-dependent alterations in functional brain connectivity.
• These findings suggest OMT can modulate neural network organization in healthy individuals.
• Further research can explore OMT's therapeutic potential based on its neurobiological effects.