Rao Yawen, Ge Limin, Wu Jiaxin
The First Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Front Neurosci. 2024 Jan 29;18:1341567. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1341567. eCollection 2024.
The acupoint LR3 (Taichong) is frequently utilized in clinical acupuncture. However, its underlying neural mechanisms remain not fully elucidated, with speculations suggesting its close association with specific brain activity patterns.
A comprehensive literature search was undertaken across several online databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and the Chinese Biomedical Database. Two independent researchers handled the study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction processes. Using the seed-based d-mapping meta-analysis approach, we evaluated the brain regions activated by LR3 acupuncture in healthy subjects. Subsequent subgroup analysis was stratified by fMRI types, and regression analyses were performed considering the duration of acupuncture, depth of needle insertion, and needle diameter. The identified active brain regions were then intricately projected onto large-scale functional networks.
A total of 10 studies met the criteria for inclusion, encompassing 319 healthy right-handed participants. The meta-analysis indicates that acupuncture at the LR3 activates regions such as the right postcentral gyrus, left thalamus, left middle frontal gyrus, and right superior frontal gyrus. Additionally, meta-regression analysis highlights that increased acupuncture duration correlates with progressively intensified activation of the right superior frontal gyrus. Subgroup analysis posits that variations in the type of fMRI employed might account for heterogeneity in the pooled results. Concurrently, functional network analysis identifies the primary activated regions as aligning with the Basal ganglia network, Auditory network, Left executive control network, Posterior salience network, Right executive control network, and Sensorimotor networks.
Acupuncture at the LR3 in healthy subjects selectively activates brain regions linked to pain perception, emotional processing, and linguistic functions. Extending the needle retention duration intensifies the activation of the right superior frontal gyrus. These findings enrich our comprehension of the neurobiological underpinnings of acupuncture's role in pain mitigation and emotional regulation.
穴位LR3（太冲）在临床针灸中经常被使用。然而，其潜在的神经机制仍未完全阐明，有推测表明它与特定的脑活动模式密切相关。
在多个在线数据库中进行了全面的文献检索，如PubMed、Web of Science、Embase、Cochrane图书馆、中国知网（CNKI）、万方数据库、维普数据库和中国生物医学数据库。两名独立的研究人员负责研究选择、质量评估和数据提取过程。使用基于种子的d映射元分析方法，我们评估了健康受试者中LR3针刺激活的脑区。随后的亚组分析按功能磁共振成像（fMRI）类型分层，并考虑针刺持续时间、进针深度和针直径进行回归分析。然后将识别出的活跃脑区精确地投射到大规模功能网络上。
共有10项研究符合纳入标准，涵盖319名健康右利手参与者。元分析表明，LR3针刺激活了右侧中央后回、左侧丘脑、左侧额中回和右侧额上回等区域。此外，元回归分析强调，针刺持续时间的增加与右侧额上回激活的逐渐增强相关。亚组分析认为，所采用的fMRI类型的差异可能是汇总结果异质性的原因。同时，功能网络分析确定主要激活区域与基底神经节网络、听觉网络、左侧执行控制网络、后显著性网络、右侧执行控制网络和感觉运动网络一致。
健康受试者的LR3针刺选择性地激活与疼痛感知、情绪处理和语言功能相关的脑区。延长留针时间会增强右侧额上回的激活。这些发现丰富了我们对针灸在减轻疼痛和情绪调节中作用的神经生物学基础的理解。
