Electroencephalogram Analysis of Magnetic Stimulation at Different Acupoints

Abstract

Magnetic stimulation has some similarities with acupuncture, and it has broad application prospects because of its non-invasiveness and easy quantification. This paper combines magnetic stimulation technology with electroencephalography to analyze the time-frequency and the brain functional network results elicited by magnetic stimulation at different acupoints. This paper hopes to observe the different effects of stimulating different acupoints on the brain from the perspective of EEG. The EEG signals during magnetic stimulation at ST36, ST40, and GB37 were recorded, respectively. The time-frequency results showed that the magnetic stimulation at ST36 and ST40 on the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian increased the energy in the left parietal lobe and the right central region, and the energy increased mainly in the theta and alpha bands. However, during the magnetic stimulation at GB37 on the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, the energy in the central region and the frontal lobe increased, and the energy increased mainly in the delta, theta, and alpha bands. Moreover, the energy in the right parietal lobe decreased during magnetic stimulation at GB37. The results of brain functional network were also consistent with time-frequency results. The brain network connections of GB37 stimulation in the central region were significantly less than that of ST36 and ST40 (p < 0.01). In addition, the connections between central region and frontal lobe and the connections between central region and parietal lobe of GB37 stimulation were significantly different from that of ST36 and ST40 (p < 0.01). The above results indicate that ST36 and ST40 on the same meridian have similar effects on the brain, while GB37 on the other meridian has completely different effects from ST36 and ST40. The results of this paper explain the reason why stimulating ST36 and ST40 can treat similar diseases from the perspective of EEG, and also explain that stimulating GB37 has significantly different effects on the brain from that of ST36 and ST40.