Dynamic brain set among the limbic-paralimbic-neocortical network during acupuncture

Overview

The limbic-paralimbic-neocortical network (LPNN) is one of the most important bases for the Deqi sensation. Deqi evokes widespread limbic-paralimbic deactivation coupled with somatosensory cortex activation, accompanied by autonomic rebalancing toward parasympathetic dominance. Some brain regions among the network drive dynamic changes in others. These patterns are likely related to needle retention, Deqi and therapeutic effects. However, conventional task-state and resting-state fMRI designs have limited capacity to fully capture the dynamic evolution of LPNN activity during needle retention. The LPNN response to acupuncture is inherently time-varying, necessitating dynamic analysis methods such as sliding-window approaches to fully capture its temporal trajectory. In this review, we first examine the limitations of current fMRI paradigms in characterizing acupuncture effects, then review the methodological framework and existing findings of dynamic functional connectivity analysis, and present converging evidence confirming that Deqi-related brain modulation evolves continuously throughout needle stimulation. We propose a new viewpoint in which the dynamic changes in the LPNN induced by acupuncture manifest the sensitivity of acupuncture. Furthermore, dynamic brain states during needle retention may serve as potential biomarkers for predicting treatment response in chronic pain disorders and could guide individualized decisions on needle retention duration. The dynamic characteristics of the brain aroused by acupuncture should be considered, and a better understanding of the basis of Deqi may be obtained.

Why This Matters for Body-Mind Practice

This review consolidates current evidence on pain and chronic pain — helping practitioners and individuals make informed decisions based on the latest science.

Source

• Dynamic brain set among the limbic-paralimbic-neocortical network during acupuncture. — Neuroscience