title: Exploratory analysis of functional connectivity network in acupuncture study by a graph theory mode.
abstract: Neuroimaging studies involved acupuncture have already demonstrated its significant modulatory effects on the limbic system, paralimbic and subcortical gray structures. These structures with presumably intimated relationships with acupuncture may constitute a network. In this study, we employed a network mode from the graph theory to evaluate the functional connectivity among multiple brain regions in the resting brain. Evidence from our findings clearly supported the existence of a large functional connectivity network constructed during a resting condition with fMRI. We concluded that acupuncture stimulation may induce the modulation of the 'acupuncture-related' network to exert its influence on the therapeutic effects, presented by significant changes of functional connectivity of some brain regions. Our study may provide a further step to the exploration of the underlying mechanism of acupuncture effects.
authors.affiliation: Life Science Research Center, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. bailj0603@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.forename: Baixiao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D026881:Acupuncture / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted