Abstract
BackgroundFunctional and structural abnormalities in resting-state brain networks in migraine patients have been confirmed by previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. However, few studies focusing on the neural responses of therapeutic treatment on migraine have been conducted. In this study, we tried to examined the treatment-related effects of standard acupuncture treatment on the right frontoparietal network (RFPN) in migraine patients.MethodsA total of 12 migraine without aura (MWoA) patients were recruited to undergo resting-state fMRI scanning and were rescanned after 4 weeks standard acupuncture treatment. Another 12 matched healthy control (HC) subjects underwent once scanning for comparison. We analyzed the functional connectivity of the RFPN between MWoA patients and HC subjects before treatment and that of the MWoA patients before and after treatment. Diffusion tensor images (DTI) data analyzing was also performed to detect fiber-related treatment responses.ResultsWe observed significantly decreased FC in the RFPN and that the decreased FC could be reversed by acupuncture treatment. The changes of FC in MWoA patients was negatively correlated with the decrease of visual analogue scale (VAS) scores after treatment. This study indicated that acupuncture treatment for MWoA patients was associated with normalizing effects on the intrinsic decreased FC of the RFPN.ConclusionsOur study provided new insights into the treatment-related neural responses in MWoA patients and suggested potential functional pathways for the evaluation of treatment in MWoA patients. Future studies are still in need to confirm the current results and to elucidate the complex neural mechanisms of acupuncture treatment.
Highlights
Functional and structural abnormalities in resting-state brain networks in migraine patients have been confirmed by previous functional magnetic resonance imaging studies
Diffusion tensor images (DTI) data processing and analyzing The data processing and analyzing were mainly carried out using FMRIB Software Library (FSL) and Analysis of Functional NeuroImage (AFNI) software
We propose that the reversal of functional connectivity in the right frontoparietal network (RFPN) may lead to further interpretation of treatment-related neural responses in migraine without aura (MWoA) patients
Summary
Functional and structural abnormalities in resting-state brain networks in migraine patients have been confirmed by previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. Migraine ranks in the top 20 of the most disabling medical illnesses globally, and has substantial effects on the quality of life of patients and their families and on health costs [3] It has attracted more and more attention worldwide as a public health issue because of its high prevalence, frequent attack history, Migraine is typically associated with pain and its regulation. A series of multiple functional and structural abnormalities within pain related resting-state brain networks in migraine patients have been confirmed by previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies [5,6,7,8,9]. As a powerful tool to map intrinsic brain activities, fMRI provides means to elucidate the possible neural mechanisms associated with
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