Subcortical structures, such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens (NAcc), play cru... more Subcortical structures, such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens (NAcc), play crucial roles in human cognitive, memory, and emotional processing, chronic pain pathophysiology, and are implicated in various psychiatric and neurological diseases. Interventions modulating the activities of these deep brain structures hold promise for improving clinical outcomes. Recently, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has been applied to modulate brain activity and has demonstrated its potential for treating psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, modulating the above deep brain structures using NIBS may be challenging due to the nature of these stimulations. This study attempts to identify brain surface regions as source targets for NIBS to reach these deep brain structures by integrating functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We used resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and probabilistic tractography (PTG) analysis to identify brain surface stimulation targets that are functionally and structurally connected to the hippocampus, amygdala, and NAcc in 119 healthy participants. Our results showed that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is functionally and anatomically connected to all three subcortical regions, while the precuneus is connected to the hippocampus and amygdala. The mPFC and precuneus, two key hubs of the default mode network (DMN), as well as other cortical areas distributed at the prefrontal cortex and the parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, were identified as potential locations for NIBS to modulate the function of these deep structures. The findings may provide new insights into the NIBS target selections for treating psychiatric and neurological disorders and chronic pain.
Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have demonstrated their potential for chronic pai... more Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have demonstrated their potential for chronic pain management, yet their efficacy exhibits variability across studies. Refining stimulation targets and exploring additional targets offer a possible solution to this challenge. This study aimed to identify potential brain surface targets for NIBS in treating chronic pain disorders by integrating literature review, neuroimaging meta-analysis, and functional connectivity analysis on 90 chronic low back pain patients. Our results showed that the primary motor cortex (M1) (C3/C4, 10–20 EEG system) and prefrontal cortex (F3/F4/Fz) were the most used brain stimulation targets for chronic pain treatment according to the literature review. The bilateral precentral gyrus (M1), supplementary motor area, Rolandic operculum, and temporoparietal junction, were all identified as common potential NIBS targets through both a meta-analysis sourced from Neurosynth and functional connectivity analysis. This study presents a comprehensive summary of the current literature and refines the existing NIBS targets through a combination of imaging meta-analysis and functional connectivity analysis for chronic pain conditions. The derived coordinates (with integration of the international electroencephalography (EEG) 10/20 electrode placement system) within the above brain regions may further facilitate the localization of these targets for NIBS application. Our findings may have the potential to expand NIBS target selection beyond current clinical trials and improve chronic pain treatment.
Scalp acupuncture is an innovative approach that integrates acupuncture needling stimulation with... more Scalp acupuncture is an innovative approach that integrates acupuncture needling stimulation with the modern understanding of brain function. In recent decades, scalp acupuncture has been applied to treat chronic pain and has achieved promising results. This study aimed to identify potential brain surface targets for scalp acupuncture based on the functional and anatomical connectivity of the hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens, three deep brain structures that are believed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of chronic pain, as well as multiple comorbid psychiatric and neurological disorders. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) datasets from 119 healthy participants were included in our analysis. We found that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), corresponding to the acupoints EX-HN3 (Yintang) / BL2 (Cuanzhu), is functionally and anatomically connected to all three subcortical regions, while the precuneus, corresponding to the acupoints GV19 (Houding) / GV20 (Baihui) and the MS12 scalp acupuncture line, is connected to the hippocampus and amygdala. Our results suggest that the mPFC and precuneus, two key hubs of the default mode network (DMN), and other cortical areas distributed at the prefrontal, parietal, and temporal cortices may hold potential as novel targets for scalp acupuncture in the treatment of chronic pain and its comorbidities. These identified locations may also be used for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and cognitive decline, in which the three corresponding deep brain structures play a crucial role.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021
Background. Poststroke aphasia (PSA) is a disabling condition that decreases the quality of life,... more Background. Poststroke aphasia (PSA) is a disabling condition that decreases the quality of life, and the duration of the disease harms the quality of life of PSA patients. Acupuncture has been widely employed for PSA. There is some evidence for the immediate treatment efficacy of acupuncture for PSA; however, long-term results after acupuncture may be poorer. Methods. This is a multicentre, randomized, blinded, nonacupoint (NA) acupuncture controlled, multimodal neuroimaging clinical trial. A total of 48 subjects with subacute PSA will be randomly assigned to an acupoint group or an NA control group. The acupoint group will receive acupuncture with normal needling at DU20, EX-HN1, HT5, GB39, EX-HN12, EX-HN13, and CV23. The NA control group will receive acupuncture in locations not corresponding to acupuncture points as sham acupoints. Both groups will receive identical speech and language therapy thrice a week for four weeks. The primary outcome will be the change in the aphasia qu...
Subcortical structures, such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens (NAcc), play cru... more Subcortical structures, such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens (NAcc), play crucial roles in human cognitive, memory, and emotional processing, chronic pain pathophysiology, and are implicated in various psychiatric and neurological diseases. Interventions modulating the activities of these deep brain structures hold promise for improving clinical outcomes. Recently, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has been applied to modulate brain activity and has demonstrated its potential for treating psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, modulating the above deep brain structures using NIBS may be challenging due to the nature of these stimulations. This study attempts to identify brain surface regions as source targets for NIBS to reach these deep brain structures by integrating functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We used resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and probabilistic tractography (PTG) analysis to identify brain surface stimulation targets that are functionally and structurally connected to the hippocampus, amygdala, and NAcc in 119 healthy participants. Our results showed that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is functionally and anatomically connected to all three subcortical regions, while the precuneus is connected to the hippocampus and amygdala. The mPFC and precuneus, two key hubs of the default mode network (DMN), as well as other cortical areas distributed at the prefrontal cortex and the parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, were identified as potential locations for NIBS to modulate the function of these deep structures. The findings may provide new insights into the NIBS target selections for treating psychiatric and neurological disorders and chronic pain.
Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have demonstrated their potential for chronic pai... more Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have demonstrated their potential for chronic pain management, yet their efficacy exhibits variability across studies. Refining stimulation targets and exploring additional targets offer a possible solution to this challenge. This study aimed to identify potential brain surface targets for NIBS in treating chronic pain disorders by integrating literature review, neuroimaging meta-analysis, and functional connectivity analysis on 90 chronic low back pain patients. Our results showed that the primary motor cortex (M1) (C3/C4, 10–20 EEG system) and prefrontal cortex (F3/F4/Fz) were the most used brain stimulation targets for chronic pain treatment according to the literature review. The bilateral precentral gyrus (M1), supplementary motor area, Rolandic operculum, and temporoparietal junction, were all identified as common potential NIBS targets through both a meta-analysis sourced from Neurosynth and functional connectivity analysis. This study presents a comprehensive summary of the current literature and refines the existing NIBS targets through a combination of imaging meta-analysis and functional connectivity analysis for chronic pain conditions. The derived coordinates (with integration of the international electroencephalography (EEG) 10/20 electrode placement system) within the above brain regions may further facilitate the localization of these targets for NIBS application. Our findings may have the potential to expand NIBS target selection beyond current clinical trials and improve chronic pain treatment.
Scalp acupuncture is an innovative approach that integrates acupuncture needling stimulation with... more Scalp acupuncture is an innovative approach that integrates acupuncture needling stimulation with the modern understanding of brain function. In recent decades, scalp acupuncture has been applied to treat chronic pain and has achieved promising results. This study aimed to identify potential brain surface targets for scalp acupuncture based on the functional and anatomical connectivity of the hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens, three deep brain structures that are believed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of chronic pain, as well as multiple comorbid psychiatric and neurological disorders. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) datasets from 119 healthy participants were included in our analysis. We found that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), corresponding to the acupoints EX-HN3 (Yintang) / BL2 (Cuanzhu), is functionally and anatomically connected to all three subcortical regions, while the precuneus, corresponding to the acupoints GV19 (Houding) / GV20 (Baihui) and the MS12 scalp acupuncture line, is connected to the hippocampus and amygdala. Our results suggest that the mPFC and precuneus, two key hubs of the default mode network (DMN), and other cortical areas distributed at the prefrontal, parietal, and temporal cortices may hold potential as novel targets for scalp acupuncture in the treatment of chronic pain and its comorbidities. These identified locations may also be used for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and cognitive decline, in which the three corresponding deep brain structures play a crucial role.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021
Background. Poststroke aphasia (PSA) is a disabling condition that decreases the quality of life,... more Background. Poststroke aphasia (PSA) is a disabling condition that decreases the quality of life, and the duration of the disease harms the quality of life of PSA patients. Acupuncture has been widely employed for PSA. There is some evidence for the immediate treatment efficacy of acupuncture for PSA; however, long-term results after acupuncture may be poorer. Methods. This is a multicentre, randomized, blinded, nonacupoint (NA) acupuncture controlled, multimodal neuroimaging clinical trial. A total of 48 subjects with subacute PSA will be randomly assigned to an acupoint group or an NA control group. The acupoint group will receive acupuncture with normal needling at DU20, EX-HN1, HT5, GB39, EX-HN12, EX-HN13, and CV23. The NA control group will receive acupuncture in locations not corresponding to acupuncture points as sham acupoints. Both groups will receive identical speech and language therapy thrice a week for four weeks. The primary outcome will be the change in the aphasia qu...
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Recently, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has been applied to modulate brain activity and has demonstrated its potential for treating psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, modulating
the above deep brain structures using NIBS may be challenging due to the nature of these stimulations. This study attempts to identify brain surface regions as source targets for NIBS to reach these deep brain structures by integrating functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We used resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and probabilistic tractography (PTG) analysis to identify brain surface stimulation targets that are functionally and structurally connected to the hippocampus, amygdala, and NAcc in 119 healthy participants. Our results showed that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is functionally and anatomically connected to all three subcortical regions, while the precuneus is connected to the hippocampus and amygdala. The mPFC
and precuneus, two key hubs of the default mode network (DMN), as well as other cortical areas distributed at the prefrontal cortex and the parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, were identified as potential locations for NIBS to modulate the function of these deep structures. The findings may provide new insights into the NIBS target selections for treating psychiatric and neurological disorders and chronic pain.
motor area, Rolandic operculum, and temporoparietal junction, were all identified as common potential NIBS targets through both a meta-analysis sourced from Neurosynth and functional connectivity analysis. This study
presents a comprehensive summary of the current literature and refines the existing NIBS targets through a combination of imaging meta-analysis and functional connectivity analysis for chronic pain conditions. The
derived coordinates (with integration of the international electroencephalography (EEG) 10/20 electrode placement system) within the above brain regions may further facilitate the localization of these targets for NIBS application. Our findings may have the potential to expand NIBS target selection beyond current clinical trials and improve chronic pain treatment.
Recently, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has been applied to modulate brain activity and has demonstrated its potential for treating psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, modulating
the above deep brain structures using NIBS may be challenging due to the nature of these stimulations. This study attempts to identify brain surface regions as source targets for NIBS to reach these deep brain structures by integrating functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We used resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and probabilistic tractography (PTG) analysis to identify brain surface stimulation targets that are functionally and structurally connected to the hippocampus, amygdala, and NAcc in 119 healthy participants. Our results showed that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is functionally and anatomically connected to all three subcortical regions, while the precuneus is connected to the hippocampus and amygdala. The mPFC
and precuneus, two key hubs of the default mode network (DMN), as well as other cortical areas distributed at the prefrontal cortex and the parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, were identified as potential locations for NIBS to modulate the function of these deep structures. The findings may provide new insights into the NIBS target selections for treating psychiatric and neurological disorders and chronic pain.
motor area, Rolandic operculum, and temporoparietal junction, were all identified as common potential NIBS targets through both a meta-analysis sourced from Neurosynth and functional connectivity analysis. This study
presents a comprehensive summary of the current literature and refines the existing NIBS targets through a combination of imaging meta-analysis and functional connectivity analysis for chronic pain conditions. The
derived coordinates (with integration of the international electroencephalography (EEG) 10/20 electrode placement system) within the above brain regions may further facilitate the localization of these targets for NIBS application. Our findings may have the potential to expand NIBS target selection beyond current clinical trials and improve chronic pain treatment.