Abstract #2340

Simultaneous CBF and BOLD Mapping of High Frequency Acupuncture Induced Brain Activity

Yue Zhang¹, Christopher B. Glielmi², Yin Jiang³, Jing Wang¹, Xiaoying Wang⁴, Jing Fang¹, Cailian Cui³, Jisheng Han³, Xiaoping P. Hu², Jue Zhang¹

¹College of Engineering, Peking University, BeiJing, China; ²Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology / Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; ³Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China; ⁴Department of Radiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China

This study mapped brain activity elicited by high frequency electroacupuncture by simultaneously using blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) contrasts. Forty subjects participated in the study, in which twenty ones were imaged during electrical acupoint stimulation (EAS) to the left LI4 acupoint at a maximal intensity without pain, and the others with a minimal-EAS at a just detectible intensity. Both BOLD and CBF data were acquired simultaneously during alternating blocks of rest and stimulation. The results revealed concordant and complementary insights into the neural effects of EAS, including modulation of subcortical structures and limbic system.