Frontiers in Neuroscience (Aug 2022)

Effects of auricular acupuncture stimulation on healthy adults’ upper limb motor-evoked potentials: A randomized, crossover, double-blind study

  • Jin Zhang,
  • Wen-Hao Huang,
  • Ya-Dan Zheng,
  • Xin Li,
  • Hao-Xiang Jiang,
  • Min-Zhi Su,
  • Xiao-Yan Huang,
  • Zu-Lin Dou,
  • Zhi-Ming Tang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.895602
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16

Abstract

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ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine whether auricular acupuncture has neuromodulatory effects on the motor cortex of healthy adults.MethodsFourteen healthy subjects received a real auricular acupuncture stimulation (SF1) session and a sham acupuncture stimulation session. The interval between the two types of stimulation was more than 24 h. A finger dexterity test (taping score and taping speed by using ipad) was assessed, and motor-evoked potentials (MEP) were assessed before and after each stimulation.ResultsBefore the treatment, there were no significant differences in MEP amplitude, tapping score, or tapping speed (P > 0.05) between the real and sham stimulation conditions. After the treatment, the MEP amplitude, tapping score, and tapping speed in the real stimulation condition increased significantly compared to the pre-stimulation measurements and were significantly higher than those in the sham stimulation condition (P < 0.01). In the sham stimulation condition, the MEP amplitude, tapping score, and tapping speed decreased significantly compared to the pre-stimulation measurements (P < 0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture of auricular points can modulate the excitability of the motor cortex area of controlling the upper limbs.Clinical trial registration[http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx], identifier [ChiCTR2100051608].

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