Functional organization of complex brain networks modulated by acupuncture at different acupoints belonging to the same anatomic segment  

作　　者：CHEN Shang-jie MENG Lan YAN Hao BAI Li-jun WANG Fang HUANG Yong LI Jian-ping PENG Xu-ming SHI Xue-min 

机构地区：[1]Department of Acupuncture, Baoan Hospital, Southern MedicalUniversity, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518101, China [2]Department of Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital, TianjinUniversity of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China [3]Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, CapitalMedical University, Beijing 100050, China [4]School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi710062, China [5]Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100190, China [6]Department of Linguistics, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi710126, China

出　　处：《Chinese Medical Journal》2012年第15期2694-2700,共7页中华医学杂志（英文版）

基　　金：This study was supported by the grams from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 81071217 and 81173354）, the Project for the National Key Basic Research and Development Program （973） （No. 2010CB530506）, the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province （No. 10451810 l 01005862 and 8451040701000553）, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central University, the Beijing Nova Program （No. Zl11101054511116）, Beijing Natural Science Foundation （No. 4122082） and the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Province （No. 20111032）.

摘　　要：Background Noninvasive functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） techniques have opened a ＂window＂ into the brain, allowing us to investigate the anatomical and physiological function involving acupuncture needling. Imaging its sustained effect rather than acute effect on the brain networks may further help elucidate the mechanisms by which acupuncture achieves its therapeutic effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional brain networks during the post-resting state following acupuncture at KI3 in comparison with acupuncture at GB40. Methods Needling at acupoints GB40 and KI3 was performed in twelve subjects. Six minutes of scanning at rest were adopted before and after acupuncture at different acupoints. Then we divided the whole brain into 39 regions and constructed functional brain networks during the post-acupuncture resting states （PARS）. Results For direct comparisons, increased correlations during post-resting state following acupuncture at KI3 compared to resting state （RS） were primarily located between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex （DLPFC） and post temporal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex （vmPFC） and post temporal cortex. These brain regions were all cognitive-related functions. In contrast, the increased connections between the anterior insula and temporal cortex mainly emerged following acupuncture at GB40 compared with the RS. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that acupuncture at different acupoints belonging to the same anatomic segment can exert different modulatory effects on the reorganizations of post-acupuncture RS networks. The heterogeneous modulation patterns between twoconditions may relate to the functional specific modulatory effects of acupuncture.Background Noninvasive functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） techniques have opened a ＂window＂ into the brain, allowing us to investigate the anatomical and physiological function involving acupuncture needling. Imaging its sustained effect rather than acute effect on the brain networks may further help elucidate the mechanisms by which acupuncture achieves its therapeutic effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional brain networks during the post-resting state following acupuncture at KI3 in comparison with acupuncture at GB40. Methods Needling at acupoints GB40 and KI3 was performed in twelve subjects. Six minutes of scanning at rest were adopted before and after acupuncture at different acupoints. Then we divided the whole brain into 39 regions and constructed functional brain networks during the post-acupuncture resting states （PARS）. Results For direct comparisons, increased correlations during post-resting state following acupuncture at KI3 compared to resting state （RS） were primarily located between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex （DLPFC） and post temporal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex （vmPFC） and post temporal cortex. These brain regions were all cognitive-related functions. In contrast, the increased connections between the anterior insula and temporal cortex mainly emerged following acupuncture at GB40 compared with the RS. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that acupuncture at different acupoints belonging to the same anatomic segment can exert different modulatory effects on the reorganizations of post-acupuncture RS networks. The heterogeneous modulation patterns between twoconditions may relate to the functional specific modulatory effects of acupuncture.

关 键 词：ACUPUNCTURE functional magnetic resonance imaging ＂ complex brain networks 

分 类 号：R245[医药卫生—针灸推拿学]