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Updated: Mar 13, 2026
Monitoring Acupuncture Effects on Human Brain by fMRI
Published on: April 8, 2010
Brain functional changes in chronic partial sleep-deprivation population by electroacupuncture at shenmen(HT7) and
Hui Zeng1, Ganbin Qiu2, Chunyan Wang1
1Medical imaging department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.
Background:
The aim of this study is to explore how electroacupuncture at the Shenmen (HT7) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints can improve chronic partial sleep deprivation(CPSD) by regulating brain function, and to elucidate its potential neural mechanisms using resting state Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI).
Methods:
43 CPSD participants and 48 healthy controls (HC) were recruited and underwent neuropsychological assessments before electroacupuncture. 3.0T BOLD-fMRI scans were conducted before and after receiving bilateral electroacupuncture at HT7 and PC6. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) regional homogeneity (ReHo) values and functional connectivity were analyzed between two groups before and after electroacupuncture.
Results:
CPSD participants showed prolonged reaction time (RT), increased omission rate (OR), and decreased accuracy (ACC) compared to HC. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in ALFF, ReHo, and functional connectivity were observed between groups before and after electroacupuncture, particularly in the default mode network (DMN) and limbic system. ALFF in the right parahippocampal gyrus positively correlated with ACC (r = 0.637, P = 0.001) and negatively with OR (r = -0.427, P = 0.047). ReHo in the left superior frontal gyrus negatively correlated with RT (r = -0.514, P = 0.014).
Conclusion:
CPSD disrupts functional brain activity, while electroacupuncture at HT7 and PC6 modulates resting-state brain function, offering neuroimaging insights into its potential mechanisms for treating emotional and cognitive impairments in CPSD.
