Objective

2

To investigate the regulatory effect of acupuncture bloodletting technique at hand twelve

jing

-well points on the thalamus-cortex network function in healthy subjects using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI)

so as to analyze the underlying neural mechanism for improving brain functions and promoting brain protection based on multi-dimensional brain function indexes.

Methods

2

A within-subject controlled design was employed

involving 30 healthy subjects. After rs-fMRI scanning

the subjects received acupuncture bloodletting technique at hand twelve

jing

-well points

stimulated from the right hands to the left hands

from the thumb to the small finger

sequentially at Shaoshang(LU11)

Shangyang (LI1)

Zhongchong (PC9)

Guanchong (TE1)

Shaochong (HT9) and Shaoze (SI1). After intervention completion

the rs-fMRI scanning was operated again. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF)

regional homogeneity (ReHo)

and whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) with the thalamus as the region of interest

as well as cerebral blood flow (CBF) were analyzed before and after intervention in healthy subjects.

Results

2

In comparison with the indexes before intervention

ALFF decreased in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus

middle temporal gyrus

precuneus and thalamus after intervention (

P

<

0.05); and ReHo was reduced in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus

middle temporal gyrus and thalamus (

P

<

0.05). In comparison with the indexes before intervention

after intervention

FC of the left thalamus was enhanced with bilateral lingual gyrus

bilateral pericalcarine cortex

left superior occipital gy

rus

left fusiform gyrus

bilateral central anterior gyrus

right central sulcus

and bilateral middle temporal gyrus (

P

<

0.05)

and it was weakened with the left precuneus (

P

<

0.05); and the enhanced FC of the right thalamus was observed with the bilateral lingual gyrus

bilateral pericalcarine cortex

bilateral middle occipital gyrus

bilateral fusiform gyrus

bilateral superior occipital gyrus

bilateral inferior temporal gyrus

bilateral cuneus

bilateral precentral gyrus

bilateral central sulcus

left superior temporal gyrus

and left inferior frontal triangular gyrus (

P

<

0.05). There was no statistical significance of difference in CBF before and after intervention (

P

>

0.05).

Conclusion

2

Acupuncture bloodletting technique at hand twelve

jing

-well points may regulate the functional state of the brain by means of inhibiting the excessive activity and abnormal synchronous discharges in the thalamus and higher-order cortical nodes and through reconstructing the functional connection network of the thalamus.