TABLE 2.
fNIRS research on patients.
| References (Region) | Year | Characteristics of participants | Type of intervention | fNIRS Parameters | fNIRS paradigm | Brain region | Main findings | ||
| Experimental group | Control group | Experimental group | Control group | ||||||
| Cognitive dysfunction and disturbance of consciousness | |||||||||
|
Khan et al., 2022 (Busan, Korea) |
2022 | MCI patients n = 11 (0M, 11F); Age: 61.58 ± 6.55y |
Healthy people n = 11 (0M, 11F); Age: 55.92 ± 7.65y |
Acupuncture therapy | / | 20-channels; 7.81 Hz | Block design; working-memory task | PFC | Acupuncture therapy improved the hemodynamic responses of the patients. And the activated area of the MCI patients, as well as the connectivity, increased with acupuncture |
|
Jeong et al., 2021 (Daejeon, Korea) |
2021 | MCI patients n = 22; Age: 50–75y |
MCI patients n = 22; Age: 50–75y |
Neurofeedback-acupuncture combined treatment | Acupuncture treatment | / | Block design; delayed matching to sample task | PFC | / |
|
Chen J. et al., 2020 (Hangzhou, China) |
2020 | PSCI patients n = 28 (16M, 12F); Age: 65.3 ± 6.8y |
PSCI patients n = 28 (17M, 11F); Age: 64.5 ± 7.2y |
Scalp acupuncture with cluster needling++drug treatment | Drug treatment | 12-channels; 10 Hz | Resting-state design | Frontal lobe, parietal lobe movement area | Applying cluster needling of scalp acupuncture on top of drug treatment can significantly elevate the cerebral hemoglobin levels compared to patients treated with drug only |
|
Sun, 2019 (Shenyang, China) |
2019 | PSCI patients n = 30 (21M, 9F); Age: 55.50 ± 10.38y |
PSCI patients n = 32 (22M, 10F); Age: 58.34 ± 9.51y |
Scalp acupuncture treatment+Routine rehabilitation training and drug treatment | Routine rehabilitation training and drug treatment | 16-channels; 10 Hz | Task state design; resting-needling the scalp while retaining the needle-removing the needle | PFC | The statistics of changes in HbO2 concentration in the PFC under acupuncture state are higher than those under resting state |
|
Ghafoor et al., 2019 (Busan, Korea) |
2019 | MCI patients n = 12 (0M, 12F); Age: 61.58 ± 6.55y |
Healthy people n = 12 (0M, 12F); Age: 55.92 ± 7.65y |
Acupuncture therapy | / | 20-channels; 7.81 Hz | Block design; working memory task | PFC | The t-maps of MCI were enhanced. Furthermore, an increased FC in the PFC in MCI cases in comparison to before acupuncture was obtained, and an increasing trend in the graph theory parameters was observed |
|
Eun-Sun et al., 2018 (Daejeon, Korea) |
2018 | MCI patients n = 12; Age: 40–80y |
Healthy people n = 12; Age: 40–80y |
Acupuncture treatment | / | 20-channels; 7.81 Hz | Block design; working memory task | PFC | / |
| Motor dysfunction | |||||||||
|
Zhang et al., 2023 (Guangzhou, China) |
2023 | Patients with stroke hemiplegia n = 20 (5M, 15F); Age: 55.95 ± 16.98y |
Patients with stroke hemiplegia n = 20 (10M, 10F); Age: 59.8 ± 11.63y |
Auricular acupuncture; therapy+regular rehabilitation training; 5 times/week, 2 weeks | Sham auricular acupuncture+regular rehabilitation training 5 times/week, 2 weeks | 38-channels; 10Hz | Resting-state design; 10 min | M1 | Auricular acupuncture has an ameliorative effect on upper limb motor deficits after stroke and that activation of the M1 region of the brain may be a key node in auricular acupuncture for treating upper limb dysfunction in stroke patients |
|
Chen Y. F. et al., 2023 (Shanghai, China) |
2023 | Upper limb motor dysfunction after stroke n = 10 (8M, 2F); Age: 58.00 ± 10.31y |
Healthy subjects n = 8 (5M, 3F); Age: 49.25 ± 6.82y |
Tui Na: one-finger Zen manipulation at Hegu | Tui Na: one-finger Zen manipulation at Hegu | 21-channels; 19Hz | Block design: six cycles: rest (20 sec); Tui Na (20 sec); rest (30 sec) | PMC, M1, SMA, SAC | Hemodynamics of contralateral SM1 was obviously enhanced, but there was no similar pattern in ipsilateral SM1; significant difference between lateralization index values for the affected arm and the less affected arm |
|
Chen Y. F. et al., 2022 (Shanghai, China) |
2022 | Patients with stroke hemiplegia n = 45 |
Patients with stroke hemiplegia n = 45 |
rTMS + Tui Na + conventional rehabilitation | rTMS + conventional rehabilitation | 32-channels; 19Hz | Resting-state: 8 min; Block design: six cycles: rest (10 sec); hand movements (15 sec); rest (20 sec) | M1, PMC, SMA | / |
|
Tang et al., 2022 (Harbin, China) |
2022 | Patients with lower extremity motor dysfunction after stroke n = 24, randomly divided into rehabilitation group n = 12 (11M, 1F) (Age: 51.91 ± 4.63y) and acupuncture-rehabilitation group n = 12 (11M, 1F) (Age: 53.50 ± 6.00y) |
Healthy people n = 10 (9M, 1F); Age: 46.10 ± 11.00y |
Rehabilitation group: routine rehabilitation training; acupuncture-rehabilitation group: acupuncture-rehabilitation intervention; 5 times/week, 4 weeks | / | 24-channels; 10Hz | Walking task | SMA, PMC, SMC | Acupuncture with rehabilitation therapy can significantly improve the lower limb motor function and asymmetrical activation of SMC in stroke patients. The recovery of lower limb motor function may be related to the enhanced activation of affected PMC |
|
Luo et al., 2022 (Mianyang, China) |
2022 | Observation group: patients with cerebral infarction n = 43 (29M, 14F) (Age: 65.77 ± 5.36y) Motor imagination group: patients with cerebral infarction n = 43 (30M, 13F) (Age: 66.42 ± 6.32y) |
Patients with cerebral infarction n = 43 (27M, 16F); Age: 64.94 ± 6.86y |
Observation group: basic medicines and routine rehabilitation+ exercise imaginary tai chi chuan steps Motor imagination group: basic medicines and routine rehabilitation+ exercise imaging therapy 5 times/week, 8 weeks |
Basic medicines and routine rehabilitation 5 times/week, 8 weeks | 22-channels | Resting-state design | SMA, PMC, SMC | Tai chi chuan imagination therapy can effectively improve the movement, balance function and abnormal gait of patients’ lower limbs, and improve the ability of daily living of patients |
|
Jang et al., 2020 (Daejeon, Korea) |
2020 | Parkinson’s patients n = 13 (10M, 3F); Age: 65.38 ± 7.81y |
Parkinson’s patients n = 13 (7M, 6F); Age: 61.46 ± 8.33y |
Acupuncture twice a week for 4 weeks+ conventional therapy |
Conventional therapy 4 weeks | 4.17Hz | Task-state design | S1, M1, SMA, PFC, PMC | Acupuncture as an adjunct treatment can improve low-dose gait in PD patients and can improve balance, including activation of the cerebral cortex (PFC and auxiliary motor areas) |
| Mental and behavioral disorders | |||||||||
|
Zhang et al., 2021 (Shenzhen, China) |
2021 | Major depressive disorder patients n = 47 (10M, 37F); Age: 39.7 ± 12.24y |
/ | Acupuncture therapy | / | 52-channels; 10Hz | Task state design; Verbal fluency task | PFC | A single session of acupuncture demonstrated a tendency to enhance the activation of the PFC in patients with severe depression |
|
Wong et al., 2021 (Hong Kong, China) |
2021 | Depressed patients n = 8; Age: 44.8 ± 10.3y |
Depressed patients n = 12; Age: 50.9 ± 11.1y |
Acupuncture therapy+drug treatment | Drug treatment | 18-channels; 7.81Hz | Resting-state design | dPFC | Depressed patients receiving acupuncture combined with antidepressants have the stronger rsFC in the dPFC compared to those using antidepressants alone |
|
Xiang, 2017 (Chengdu, China) |
2017 | Generalized anxiety disorder patients n = 12 (2M, 10F); Age: 45.42 ± 13.41y |
Healthy people n = 12 (3M, 9F); Age: 40.25 ± 11.99y |
Acupuncture therapy | / | 250Hz | Block design; Acupuncture stimulation-Acupuncture preparation-Acupuncture stimulation | dPFC | Acupuncture can activate the left dPFC in patients with generalized anxiety disorder, resulting in an immediate response characterized by an increase in HbO2 and a decrease in dHb |
|
Miao, 2016 (Chengdu, China) |
2016 | Depressed patients n = 8 (3M, 5F); Age: 47.62 ± 6.72y |
Depressed patients n = 8 (2M, 6F); Age: 48.12 ± 7.74y |
Acupuncture therapy | Drug treatment | 4-channels; 250Hz | Block design; emotional image processing task, N-back task | dPFC | After treatment, the HbO2 levels in the dPFC corresponding to three types of emotional images in both groups of patients increased. The HbO2 levels in the dPFC corresponding to sad images in the two groups of patients showed statistically significant differences at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8 |
|
Chen, 2015 (Chengdu, China) |
2015 | Depressed patients n = 8 (3M, 5F); Age: 48.13 ± 9.75y |
Depressed patients n = 8 (2M, 6F); Age: 47.9 ± 9.9y |
Acupuncture therapy | Drug treatment | / | Task state design; emotional image processing task | dPFC | The activation level of related brain areas in the first week of acupuncture was higher than that in the Western medicine group, while the activation intensity in the Western medicine group was higher than that in the acupuncture group in the second and eighth weeks |
| Insomnia | |||||||||
|
Xu Y. K. et al., 2022 (Beijing, China) |
2022 | Insomnia patients n = 29 (10M, 19F) Age: 18–65y |
Healthy people n = 30 (10M, 18F) Age: 18–65y |
Acupuncture therapy | / | 46-channels 6.25 Hz | Emotional image processing task | Frontal lobe, Parietal lobe | The treatment of acupuncture for primary insomnia can regulate the concentration of HbO2 in the cerebral cortex by manipulating at specific acupoints, which can improve the function of loubus fromatis, orbitofrontal cortex and lobus parietalis related brain areas, enhance individual control of involuntary activation of extraneous stimuli, and regulate excessive arousal activity to improve insomnia |
|
Wang et al., 2022 (Beijing, China) |
2022 | Young insomnia patients n = 10 (Age: 18–35y) Middle aged insomnia patients n = 12 (Age: 35–50y) Elderly insomnia patients n = 8 (Age: 50–65y) |
/ | Acupuncture therapy 3 times/week, 2 weeks | / | 46-channels 6.25 Hz | Event Experimental Design | Frontal lobe | The change of HbO2 in the frontal lobe after acupuncture supports the traditional Chinese medicine “Yin Self-half at forty years” and the theory of insomnia that “when Yang is high, the eyes are not closed, and that when Yin is high, the eyes are closed” |
| Pain disorders | |||||||||
|
Du et al., 2023a (Shanghai, China) |
2023 | Patients with the cervical-shoulder syndrome n = 20; Age: 36.6 ± 7.2 y |
/ | The E-WAA was used to administer an electrical stimulation therapy that lasted for 5 min | / | 24-channels | Block design | PFC | The FP and dPFC were linked to the analgesic modulation activated by the E-WAA |
|
Du et al., 2023b (Shanghai, China) |
2023 | Male patients with myofascial pain syndrome n = 16; Age: 47.19 ± 13.57 |
Male patients with myofascial pain syndrome n = 15; Age: 53.06 ± 17.16 |
Analgesic electrical stimulation combined with wrist-Ankle acupuncture | / | 24-channels 10 Hz | Block design | PFC | Compared to no intervention, TENS based on wrist-ankle acupuncture can be effective in relieving pain in patients with MPS in terms of cerebral cortical hemodynamics |
|
Shi et al., 2022 (Shanghai, China) |
2022 | Patients with trapezius myofascial pain syndrome n = 25; Age: 24–27y |
Patients with trapezius myofascial pain syndrome n = 25; Age: 24–27y |
Electronic wrist ankle needle stimulation for 5 min | Electronic wrist ankle needle stimulation for 10 s | / | Block design | PFC | E-WAA have a great analgesic effect. The FP and dPFC were relative to the analgesia neuromodulation induced by the E-WAA |
| Pediatric diseases | |||||||||
|
Yang, 2023 (Chuzhou, China) |
2023 | Myopic children n = 118 (2M, 10F); Age: 6–14y |
Healthy children n = 128 (2M, 10F); Age: 6–14y |
Acupuncture therapy+ transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation therapy |
/ | / | Task state design; visual task | Visual cortex V1 V2 | Compared to the normal vision group, the oxygenated hemoglobin in the V2 region of the myopic group during gaze movement and alternating gaze stages β Lower value |
|
Wu, 2022 (Jinan, China) |
2022 | Anisometropic amblyopia children n = 21 (13M, 8F); Age: 6.52 ± 0.13y |
Anisometropic amblyopia children n = 24 (13M, 11F); Age: 6.63 ± 0.13y |
Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation therapy | Traditional acupuncture therapy | 22-channels | Event related design; visual stimulation task | Visual cortex V1 V2 | After traditional acupuncture or transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation intervention, HbO2-β value in the visual cortex regions of V1 and V2 were significantly higher than before the intervention |
|
Zhuo et al., 2022 (Xi’an, China) |
2022 | Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder children n = 39 (33M, 6F); Age: 8.05 ± 1.187y |
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder children n = 39 (31M, 8F); Age: 8.56 ± 1.468y |
Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation therapy | Sham transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation therapy | 52-channels | Block design; visual stimulation task Go/NO go task | PFC | After treatment, the HbO2 in PFC of the transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation group increased and was higher than that of the control group |
|
Chai, 2020 (Jinan, China) |
2020 | Monocular anisometropic amblyopia children n = 15 (7M, 8F); Age: 7–12y |
Healthy children n = 38 (18M, 20F); Age: 7–12y |
Acupuncture therapy+ conventional therapy | / | 22-channels | Block design; visual stimulation task | PFC, OC | When subjected to high spatial frequency checkerboard flipping stimulation, the β-value of the visual cortex increased compared to before acupuncture, and there was no statistically significant difference at baseline |
| Other disease | |||||||||
|
Zu et al., 2023 (Shanghai, China) |
2023 | Spinal cord injury patients n = 15 (14M, 1F) Age: 33.98 ± 6.10 |
Healthy people n = 25 (17M, 8F) Age: 25.33 ± 1.02 |
Aerobic exercise and wheelchair tai chi chuan | Wheelchair tai chi chuan | 63-channels 10 Hz | Block design | PFC, PMC, SMA, M1 | The potential and advantages of wheelchair tai chi chuan in triggering cortical muscle coupling may optimize rehabilitation after spinal cord injury |
|
Yu et al., 2023 (Shanghai, China) |
2023 | Patients with bilateral tinnitus n = 18 (10M, 8F) Age: 27–67y |
/ | 20-min acupuncture session every other day for a total of ten times | / | 20-channels 10 Hz | The auditory stimulus paradigm | Temporal lobe | Acupuncture increased the concentration of HbO2 in the temporal lobe of tinnitus patients, and affected the activation of the auditory cortex |
M, male; F, female; FC, functional connectivity; PFC, prefrontal cortex; dPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; vPFC, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex; FPA, frontal area; FP, frontal polar; MC, motor cortex; OC, occipital cortex; SMC, sensorimotor cortex; BA, brodmann area; S1 ± primary somatosensory cortex; M1 ± primary motor cortex; S2 ± secondary somatosensory cortex.