Study on the brain network following magnetic stimulation of Hegu point based on multi-threshold analysis

Acupuncture is effective to treat various diseases. However, the underlying regulation mechanisms of acupuncture remain unclear. In this paper, repeated-pulse magnetic stimulation was used to stimulate the left Hegu (LI4) point of healthy people. EEG signals were recorded before and during magnetic stimulation. Based on the theory of complex network analysis, functional networks under multi thresholds were constructed and the changes in brain connection and topology attributes before and during magnetic stimulation of LI4 were studied. Results showed that the comparison of topology attributes had significant difference between different thresholds and that magnetic stimulation of LI4 changed the connection of brain functional areas related to somatosensory association, auditory association and vision association. It implied that information processing among these functional areas changed, which has probably association with the regulation mechanisms of LI4.