Electroacupuncture alters brain network functional connectivity in subacute stroke: A randomised crossover trial.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Electroacupuncture (EA) is a potential treatment for upper-limb motor recovery in stroke survivors.
• The underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of EA's efficacy require further elucidation.
• Understanding these mechanisms can optimize stroke rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the immediate effects of EA on brain network functional connectivity.
• To explore EA's impact on the topological properties of brain networks.
• To identify neurophysiological mechanisms of EA in stroke motor recovery.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, single-blinded, two-period crossover trial involving 52 subacute subcortical stroke patients.
• Comparison of EA versus sham electroacupuncture (SEA) interventions.
• Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) to analyze parietofrontal network connectivity and whole-brain small-world properties.

Main Results:

• EA significantly altered ipsilesional parietofrontal network connectivity in alpha and beta frequency bands.
• EA significantly downregulated this connectivity compared to SEA.
• EA enhanced small-world (SW) properties of the brain network post-stimulation compared to SEA.

Conclusions:

• EA downregulates ipsilesional parietofrontal network connectivity.
• EA enhances small-world network properties.
• These neurophysiological changes offer a potential mechanism for EA-facilitated motor recovery in stroke patients.