Research published in PLoS One (2010 Sept 7;5[9]) examined how stimulation of acupuncture points affects brain activity. In this pilot study, 10 healthy volunteers received laser acupuncture at four points commonly used in depression care (LR-14, HT-7, CV-14, and LR-8).
Functional MRI (fMRI) was used to assess neurologic responses. The researchers found that acupuncture produced site-specific patterns of brain activation and deactivation, particularly in frontal–limbic–striatal regions, areas involved in mood regulation. Importantly, the effects were not consistent with simple sensory stimulation: while regions on the stimulated side showed increased activation, corresponding regions on the opposite side showed relative suppression.
Different acupuncture points produced different activity patterns, suggesting that neurologic effects vary depending on the point stimulated. The authors concluded that acupuncture can modulate brain activity in a targeted manner and that the mechanisms—and potential relevance for depression—warrant further investigation.
