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Acupuncture Alters Brain's Dynamic Functional Network Connectivity in Stroke Patients with Motor Dysfunction: A
Yahui Wang1,2, Mengxin Lu1, Ruoyi Liu1
1Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Neural Plasticity
|June 29, 2023
Summary
Acupuncture may improve brain network connectivity in stroke patients by modulating dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC). True acupoint stimulation shows potential for regulating brain function and aiding motor recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Acupuncture is known to promote static brain network reorganization in post-stroke patients with motor deficits.
- The impact of acupuncture on the dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) of the brain after ischemic stroke remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of acupuncture on the dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) in patients following an ischemic stroke.
- To compare the effects of true acupoint acupuncture versus sham acupoint acupuncture on brain network dynamics.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, randomized controlled neuroimaging study involving 53 ischemic stroke patients.
- Patients were allocated to either a true acupoint treatment group (TATG) or a sham acupoint treatment group (SATG) at a 2:1 ratio.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical assessments were conducted pre- and post-treatment, with dFNC analysis used to identify distinct connectivity states and their temporal properties.
Main Results:
- The true acupoint group (TATG) exhibited reduced mean dwell time and attenuated functional connectivity (FC) between sensorimotor (SMN) and frontoparietal networks (FPN) in a sparsely connected state (state 3).
- In a segregated state (state 1), the TATG showed increased FC between the dorsal attention network (DAN) and default mode network (DMN), and between DAN and the right frontoparietal network (RFPN) post-treatment compared to the SATG.
- Pre-treatment correlations indicated that lower Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scores were associated with altered dFNC characteristics, suggesting a link between network dynamics and motor function.
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture demonstrates potential in modulating abnormal temporal properties of brain networks and balancing functional integration and segregation after ischemic stroke.
- True acupoint stimulation appears to offer a more beneficial effect on regulating the brain's dynamic functional connectivity compared to sham treatment.
- Findings suggest acupuncture's role in neurorehabilitation by influencing dynamic brain network organization.
