title: Changes in Regional Brain Homogeneity Induced by Electro-Acupuncture Stimulation at the Baihui Acupoint in Healthy Subjects: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to the Traditional Chinese Medicine theory of acupuncture, Baihui (GV20) is applied to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, the relationships between neural responses and GV20 remain unknown. Thus, the main aim of this study was to examine the brain responses induced by electro-acupuncture stimulation (EAS) at GV20.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed in 33 healthy subjects. Based on the non-repeated event-related (NRER) paradigm, group differences were examined between GV20 and a sham acupoint using the regional homogeneity (ReHo) method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the sham acupoint, EAS at GV20 induced increased ReHo in regions including the orbital frontal cortex (OFC), middle cingulate cortex (MCC), precentral cortex, and precuneus (preCUN). Decreased ReHo was found in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), supplementary motor area (SMA), thalamus, putamen, and cerebellum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings provide preliminary neuroimaging evidence to indicate that EAS at GV20 could induce a specific pattern of neural responses by analysis of ReHo of brain activity. These findings might improve the understanding of mechanisms of acupuncture stimulation at GV20.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine , Nanning, China .
authors.forename: Demao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine , Nanning, China .
authors.forename: Gaoxiong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine , Nanning, China .
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: 2 Life Science Research Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University , Xi'an, China .
authors.forename: Yanfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 2 Life Science Research Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University , Xi'an, China .
authors.forename: Geliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine , Nanning, China .
authors.forename: Huimei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine , Nanning, China .
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine , Nanning, China .
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine , Nanning, China .
authors.forename: Jien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine , Nanning, China .
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine , Nanning, China .
authors.forename: Wenzhao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: 2 Life Science Research Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University , Xi'an, China .
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Baihui; acupuncture; functional magnetic resonance imaging; regional homogeneity