Research ReportA functional magnetic resonance imaging study on the effect of acupuncture at GB34 (Yanglingquan) on motor-related network in hemiplegic patients

- We explored the effect of acupuncture at GB34 on hand motor task in stroke patients.
- Motor task before and after acupuncture was compared using sham point as control.
- Result showed that acupuncture can increase motor-cognition connectivity.
- Compensation of contralateral motor cortex was decreased after acupuncture.

BackgroundFunctional disability of stroke patients, especially limb motor function, seriously impacts the quality of life. Although acupuncture at GB34 (Yang-ling-quan) has been shown to be effective on the recovery of motor function, the underlying mechanism has not been well explored.ObjectiveTo explore the central mechanisms of immediate effect of acupuncture at GB34 on motor-related network of stroke patients with hemiplegia.MethodsA repeated measures ANOVA method was employed to investigate the effect of acupuncture at GB34 on functional connectivity of motor-related network. Six stroke patients with left hemiplegia were recruited. A left hand motor task fMRI experiment was performed before and right after acupuncture. Sham point acupuncture was taken as control. The most significant fMRI signal changes during motor task in the right precentral gyrus were identified, which was selected as a seed point for connectivity analysis. Then the functional connectivity of this seed point was compared between verum and sham point acupuncture.ResultsCompared to sham, acupuncture at GB34 showed positive interaction effect at right temporal pole, left lingual gyrus, and left cerebellum. While negative interaction effect mainly occurred at contralateral motor cortex and ipsilateral motor cortex of lower limb.ConclusionsAcupuncture at GB34 may increase motor-cognition connectivity meanwhile decrease compensation of unaffected motor cortex and homolateral synkinesis, which can definitely promote the rehabilitation of hemiplegia and spasm.