Cerebral activation effects of acupuncture at Yanglinquan(GB34) point acquired using resting-state fMRI.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the central mechanism of acupuncture points for regional homogeneity(ReHo) of resting state in brain function after acupuncture at GB34.

METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers were enrolled, which included 4 males and 6 females, aged 20-34 years old with median age of 23. The GE Signa HDxt 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging were performed before (control group) and after acupuncture at GB34, and differences of different brain ReHo of 2 groups by statistical parametric mapping (SPM8) software and ReHo data processing methods were analyzed. The statistically different brain regions were obtained by false discovery rate corrected (FDR-Corrected).

RESULTS: Compared with control group, the anterior cingulated gyrus, left temporal gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule, right frontal gyrus were enhanced ReHo after acupuncture at GB34. The left thalamus, right insular cortex, left inferior frontal gyrus, right anterior cingulate were decreased ReHo after acupuncture at GB34.

CONCLUSION: It is demonstrated that the signal synchronization change ReHo in different brain regions including cognitive, motor, default network, limbic system and other parts of encephalic region after acupuncture at GB34, suggesting that the central mechanism of acupuncture at GB34 is the result of all levels of the combined effects of brain networks.