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Lin J, Li J, Huang J, Li S, Sun J, Liu J. Enhancement of Motor Learning and Corticospinal Excitability: The Role of Electroacupuncture and Motor Training in Healthy Volunteers. Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e943748. [PMID: 38853414 PMCID: PMC11177720 DOI: 10.12659/msm.943748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study embarked on an innovative exploration to elucidate the effects of integrating electroacupuncture (EA) with motor training (MT) on enhancing corticospinal excitability and motor learning. Central to this investigation is the interplay between homeostatic and non-homeostatic metaplasticity processes, providing insights into how these combined interventions may influence neural plasticity and motor skill acquisition. MATERIAL AND METHODS The investigation enrolled 20 healthy volunteers, subjecting them to 4 distinct interventions to parse out the individual and combined effects of EA and MT. These interventions were EA alone, MT alone, EA-priming followed by MT, and MT-priming followed by EA. The assessment of changes in primary motor cortex (M1) excitability was conducted through motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), while the grooved pegboard test (GPT) was used to evaluate alterations in motor performance. RESULTS The findings revealed that EA and MT independently contributed to enhanced M1 excitability and motor performance. However, the additional priming with EA or MT did not yield further modulation in MEPs amplitudes. Notably, EA-priming was associated with improved GPT completion times, underscoring its potential in facilitating motor learning. CONCLUSIONS The study underscores that while EA and MT individually augment motor cortex excitability and performance, their synergistic application does not further enhance or inhibit cortical excitability. This points to the involvement of non-homeostatic metaplasticity mechanisms. Nonetheless, EA emerges as a critical tool in preventing M1 overstimulation, thereby continuously fostering motor learning. The findings call for further research into the strategic application of EA, whether in isolation or with MT, within clinical settings to optimize rehabilitation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Lin
- Group for Acupuncture Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jiemei Li
- Group for Acupuncture Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
- Guangzhou Zengcheng District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jianpeng Huang
- Group for Acupuncture Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Sheng Li
- Group for Acupuncture Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jian Sun
- Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jianhua Liu
- Group for Acupuncture Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
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Tang X, Xu M, Zhao J, Shi J, Zi Y, Wu J, Xu J, Yu Y, Yao L, Ou J, Li Y, Yao S, Lv H, Lu L, Xu N, Wang L. Effect of Electro-Acupuncture on Lateralization of the Human Swallowing Motor Cortex Excitability by Navigation-Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Electromyography. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:808789. [PMID: 35283740 PMCID: PMC8911038 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.808789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The use of transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with electromyography for the functional evaluation of the cerebral cortex in both clinical and non-clinical populations is becoming increasingly common. Numerous studies have shown that electro-acupuncture (EA) can regulate cerebral cortical excitability. However, the effect of EA on the lateralization of the human swallowing motor cortex excitability is not yet fully understood. Objective The aim of this study was to assess whether lateralization is present in the swallowing motor cortex of healthy subjects, and to investigate the impact of EA at Lianquan (CV23) and Fengfu (GV16) on lateralization. Methods Forty subjects were randomized 1:1 into the EA group and the sham-EA group. The bilateral swallowing motor cortices was located by a neuroimaging navigation system. Then, the resting motor threshold (RMT) and motor evoked potential (MEP) of the mylohyoid of healthy subjects were recorded while applying combined transcranial magnetic stimulation and electromyography before and after EA or sham-EA. Results First, the RMT and MEP latency of the contralateral mylohyoid innervated by the right swallowing cortex (71.50 ± 1.67%, 8.30 ± 0.06 ms) were lower than those innervated by the left (79.38 ± 1.27%, 8.40 ± 0.06 ms). Second, EA at CV23 and GV16 reduced the bilateral RMT and enhanced the bilateral MEP latency and amplitude (P = 0.005, P < 0.001; P = 0.002, P = 0.001; P = 0.002, P = 0.009), while sham-EA did not (P > 0.05). Third, EA had an effect on the RMT and MEP latency in terms of lateralization changes, but this was not significant (P = 0.067, P = 0.156). Conclusion The right swallowing motor cortex of healthy subjects is more excitable than that of the left at resting state. Thus, we found that lateralization is present in the swallowing motor cortex of healthy people, which might indicate a hemispheric dominance of swallowing predominates in the right swallowing motor cortex. In addition, EA at CV23 and GV16 can instantly promote the excitability of the bilateral swallowing motor cortices. But there was no significant difference in EA stimulation in terms of lateralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Tang
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mindong Xu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiayi Zhao
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiahui Shi
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingyu Zi
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianlu Wu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Xu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanling Yu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - LuLu Yao
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiayin Ou
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yitong Li
- Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuqi Yao
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hang Lv
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liming Lu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Liming Lu,
| | - Nenggui Xu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China,Nenggui Xu,
| | - Lin Wang
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China,Lin Wang,
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