Characteristic of motor-related cortical network during stimulating at the affected or bilateral limbs of stroke patients by acupuncture

IF 3.7 3区医学 Q2 NEUROSCIENCES

Brain Research Bulletin Pub Date : 2025-05-19 DOI:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111393

Ziwen Yuan , Fei Mao , Zimo Liu , Shubo Xing , Liu Yang , Wenping Wu , Weiwei Xu , Jingyuan Deng , Gang Wang

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Abstract

Background

The compensatory pattern between the two hemispheres after stroke has been the focus of research. Some evidence suggests bilateral stimulation more effectively engages networks across both hemispheres compared to the affected side only.

Objectives

To explore whether the stimulating at bilateral limbs of stroke patients by acupuncture may better engage compensatory reorganization between the hemispheres compared to stimulating at the hemiplegic limb.

Methods

Conscious patients with hemiplegia were screened. Brain activity was assessed by the functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS) in three states: no treatment, acupuncture on the affected side, and then acupuncture on both sides. Brain activation and directed functional connectivity(FC) was analyzed between the two acupuncture strategies.

Results

Acupuncture of bilateral limbs resulted in stronger activation in the primary motor cortex(M1) of the ipsilesional hemisphere than acupuncture of the affected side only. And no significantly enhanced activation of the contralesional hemisphere was observed after acupuncture on the healthy limb. Besides, the FCs from the ipsilesional premotor cortex to the contralesional sensory-related area were significantly enhanced, and the FCs from the sensory area to motor area within the ipsilesional hemisphere were also significantly enhanced. Additionally, FCs from contralesional M1 to ipsilesional motor area were attenuated.

Conclusion

Stimulating at bilateral limbs by acupuncture could lead to greater brain network remodeling in the motor-related areas compared to stimulating solely at the affected side, and not through more stimulation.

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针刺刺激脑卒中患者患肢或双侧肢体时运动相关皮层网络的特征

脑卒中后大脑两半球间的代偿模式一直是研究的热点。一些证据表明，与仅受影响的一侧相比，双侧刺激更有效地调动了两个半球的网络。目的探讨针刺刺激脑卒中患者双侧肢体是否比偏瘫肢体更好地参与脑半球间代偿重组。方法对有意识偏瘫患者进行筛选。采用功能性近红外光谱（fNIRS）评估三种状态下的脑活动：未治疗、患侧针刺、双侧针刺。分析了两种针刺策略之间的脑激活和定向功能连接（FC）。结果双侧肢体针刺对同侧半球初级运动皮层（M1）的激活作用强于单侧针刺。在健康肢体上针刺后，对侧半球的激活未见明显增强。从同侧运动前皮层到对侧感觉相关区域的FCs显著增强，从同侧半球的感觉区域到运动区域的FCs也显著增强。此外，从对侧M1到同侧运动区的FCs减弱。结论针刺刺激双侧肢体与单纯刺激患侧相比，可引起更大的运动相关区脑网络重构，且不需要更多的刺激。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Brain Research Bulletin 医学-神经科学

CiteScore

6.90

自引率

2.60%

发文量

253

审稿时长

67 days

期刊介绍： The Brain Research Bulletin (BRB) aims to publish novel work that advances our knowledge of molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie neural network properties associated with behavior, cognition and other brain functions during neurodevelopment and in the adult. Although clinical research is out of the Journal''s scope, the BRB also aims to publish translation research that provides insight into biological mechanisms and processes associated with neurodegeneration mechanisms, neurological diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders. The Journal is especially interested in research using novel methodologies, such as optogenetics, multielectrode array recordings and life imaging in wild-type and genetically-modified animal models, with the goal to advance our understanding of how neurons, glia and networks function in vivo.