Neural Effects of Low-Frequency Acupoint Electrical Stimulation Therapy on Patients With Poststroke Motor...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

• Stroke frequently causes motor dysfunction due to alterations in brain functional activity.
• Regional homogeneity (ReHo) reflects the synchronization of brain activity and is a sensitive indicator of functional changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in brain functional activity between post-stroke patients and healthy individuals.
• To evaluate the effects of low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation on ReHo in stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 28 stroke patients and 20 healthy controls.
• Patients received low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation targeting motor areas and affected limbs for 3 weeks.
• Brain functional activity was assessed using regional homogeneity (ReHo) measurements.

Main Results:

• Stroke patients exhibited altered ReHo in brain regions including the parahippocampal gyrus, cerebellum, and sensorimotor network (SMN) compared to controls.
• Following stimulation, ReHo increased in right SMN-related regions and decreased in the left cerebellum and left angular gyrus.
• Improvements in motor function scores correlated with changes in ReHo in specific brain regions.

Conclusions:

• Abnormal brain synchrony, particularly between the SMN and cerebellum, may underlie post-stroke motor dysfunction.
• Low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation appears to facilitate motor recovery through functional remodeling of the lateralized SMN.