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Published on: October 11, 2024
Electroacupuncture improves upper-limb motor function and modulates sensorimotor network connectivity in subacute
Mingfen Li1, Weigeng Zou1, Genggeng Xie1
1Department of Neurorehabilitation, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Central Nervous System Repair and Functional Reconstruction, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China.
Electroacupuncture (EA) significantly improved upper-limb motor function in subacute stroke patients by enhancing sensorimotor network (SMN) connectivity. This neurophysiological change suggests EA aids recovery through specific circuit reorganization.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Post-stroke motor recovery remains a challenge, with limited understanding of neurophysiological mechanisms.
- Electroacupuncture (EA) shows potential in facilitating motor recovery, but its effects on brain networks are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how EA modulates sensorimotor network (SMN) functional connectivity (FC).
- To explore the relationship between EA-induced FC changes and upper-limb motor recovery in subacute stroke patients.
Main Methods:
- Fifty subacute stroke patients were randomized into EA and sham EA (SEA) groups.
- Resting-state EEG recorded FC (alpha and beta bands) and graph-theoretical metrics before and after 3 weeks of treatment.
- Partial least squares regression (PLSR) assessed the link between FC alterations and motor improvement.
Main Results:
- The EA group showed significantly greater upper-limb motor function improvement (FMA-UE) than the SEA group.
- EA treatment led to a significant increase in alpha-band SMN FC, particularly interhemispheric connections.
- PLSR explained 68.7% of motor improvement variance in the EA group, linked to alpha-band FC.
Conclusions:
- EA enhances upper-limb motor recovery in subacute stroke.
- EA is associated with selective enhancement of alpha-band FC within the SMN.
- EA may promote recovery via frequency-specific reorganization of sensorimotor circuits.
