Potential scalp acupuncture and brain stimulation targets for common neurological disorders: evidence from neuroimaging studies

Abstract

Background

Scalp acupuncture is a promising potential therapy for neurological disorders. However, the development of its stimulation targets—both in identifying novel targets and refining the precision of their localization—has advanced slowly, largely due to the inadequate integration of brain science findings. This study leverages advances in brain neuroimaging to identify evidence-based cortical targets, enhancing the potential of scalp acupuncture and other brain stimulation techniques.

Methods

Using the Neurosynth Compose platform, systematic meta-analyses of neuroimaging studies were conducted to identify potential surface cortical targets for ten neurological conditions: Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Post-Stroke Aphasia (PSA), Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), Dyslexia, Chronic Pain, and Disorders of Consciousness (DoC). These targets were projected onto the scalp, further localized using scalp acupuncture lines, traditional acupoints and EEG 10–20 system.

Results

We have identified specific cortical targets for scalp acupuncture associated with ten neurological disorders. Our findings are broadly consistent with current scalp acupuncture protocols while introducing additional new stimulation targets, such as the inferior temporal gyrus for memory processing and the angular gyrus for visuospatial attention. Additionally, the identified targets align with evidence from non-invasive brain stimulation, supporting therapeutic strategies for conditions such as movement disorders and cognitive impairments by targeting areas like the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and primary motor cortex.

Conclusion

Our findings provide a foundation for developing a brain imaging-based scalp acupuncture protocol for neurological disorders. The identified targets may also be used as brain stimulation targets for these disorders.