Effect Of Electroacupuncturing Heart Meridian Of Hand Shaoyin On Healthy Volunteers' Resting-state FMRI Function Connectivity

Objective:With healthy volunteers as research object,we can respectively observe the corresponding relation between electroacupuncture and the change of function connectivity,by comparing the Resting-state fMRI Function Connectivity of electroacupuncture Heart Meridian (HT-1, HT-3, HT-4, HT-7) and non-acupoints on the same segments (F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4) of a non-channel line. In order to provide the evidence for clinical treatment of the related diseases using acupoints of the Heart Meridian.Meanwhile, we can compare changes of activated brain regions at resting state,electroacupuncture state and post-acupuncture state, to provide central mechanism for acupuncture.Method:27 healthy volunteers that met inclusion criteria were divided into two groups at random. The experimental group 14 cases were given electro-acupuncture acupoints of Heart Meridian; the control group 13 cases were given electro-acupuncture non-acupoints in the same segments of a non-channel line.The Resting-state fMRI date of two groups was acquired respectively at resting state,electroacupuncture state and post-acupuncture state,while bilateral posterior cingulate were chosen as seed points and function connectivity were used as the measured items. MATLAB,DPARSF,REST were used to analyze the fMRI data,we can respectivly get brain area that has function connectivity with posterior cingulate,to analyze function connectivity differences in different group and state.Result:1.The brain area that has function connectivity with seed points (bilateral posterior cingulate) in Resting-state of two groups include bilateral cerebellum,left middle frontal gyrus,bilateral inferior frontal gyrus,right precentral gyrus,left sub-gyral of temporal lobe,right inferior parietal lobule,left precuneus,left middle occipital gyrus,left Lingual gyrus and right parahippocampa gyrus (P<0.05). There is no significant difference between the two groups.2.Function connectivity of two groups were changed by acupuncturing stimulation.The same brain area include bilateral postcentral gyrus,right inferior parietal lobule,right inferior frontal gyrus.The enhanced brain area of experimental groups include left inferior temporal gyrus.right parahippocampa gyrus,and new increased function connectivity were found in left precentral gyrus,right precuneus,left angular gyrus,left inferior occipital lobe(P<0.05). The enhanced brain area of control groups is left superior temporal gyrus(P <0.05).3.Compared with Resting-state, function connectivity of post-acupuncture were changed, the enhanced brain area included left middle occipital gyrus,left posterior cingulate, and new increased function connectivity were found in the right frontal lobe sub-gyral,right postcentral gyrus,right insula(P<0.05).4. Compared with post-acupuncture, the enhanced function connectivity of acupuncturing stimulation included right inferior frontal lobe,right inferior temporal lobe,right inferior parietal lobule,right posterior cingulate(P<0.05).Conclusion:1.The brain areas that has function connectivity with bilateral posterior cingulate in Resting-state were found in both groups, it suggest that there are certain function activities at quiet and awake state without task. These brain areas are all related with the interaction of memory, cognition and emotion activities, it confirm that there is default network in brain.2.Function connectivity of two groups were changed by acupuncturing stimulation. The same brain area are general somatosensory area and feeling fine control area, it suggest that the general somatosensory and feeling fine control area can be activated by electroacupuncture.The enhanced and new increased brain area of electroacupuncture Heart Meridian are related with cognition, emotion, memory and other senior cognitive function,These results provide part imaging evidence for the clinical treatment of psychic and emotive diseases using acupoints of the Heart Meridian.Presumably,the change of function connectivity by electroacupuncture Heart Meridian might be an important mechanism during treatment of brain disease.The enhanced brain area of control groups is left superior temporal gyrus that's related with auditory cortex and Auditory speech center, it may be caused by the auditory environment of experiment.3.Function connectivity of electro-acupuncture Heart Meridian were changed at resting state,electroacupuncture state and post-acupuncture state. Compared with resting state,the enhanced and new increased function connectivity of acupuncturing stimulation and post-acupuncture are related with sensation,cognition, emotion, memory and other senior cognitive function,it provide that the brain activity by electroacupuncture not only an immediate effect, there are still further effects.Presumably,the acupuncture clinical effect may be affected by the nerve network.Compared with post-acupuncture,the enhanced function connectivity of acupuncturing stimulation are related with stimulus discrimination,feeling and scene memory senior cognitive functions, it provide that immediate effect is greater than post-effects,The changes may be a central mechanism of the acupuncturceffect. But how long the post-effects can continue to play an role is not clear.