Mechanistic Studies on Video-guided Acupuncture Imagery Treatment of Knee Pain

fMRI measures changes in brain activity by detecting fluctuations in blood oxygenation levels. The primary signal used in fMRI is the Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) signal, which reflects neuronal activity indirectly through hemodynamic responses.

Time frame: Collected once during the first treatment session

Population: SPM 12 was applied to investigate the brain responses to different interactions. Group analysis was performed using a random-effects model. A one-sample t-test was performed to compare the fMRI signal changes during manipulation vs. no manipulation within each treatment. Thresholds of p \< 0.005 were applied. Peak values of fMRI signal increase brain regions (insula) were used for the report below.

The resting state functional connectivity of periaqueduct grey (PAG) before and after intervention. Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) is assessed by analyzing spontaneous BOLD signal fluctuations in different brain regions when a subject is at rest, providing insights into intrinsic brain network organization. Preprocessing steps, including motion correction, spatial normalization, and noise removal, ensure data accuracy.

Time frame: baseline and after one month treatment

Population: The functional connectivity analysis was performed using CONN toolbox. A threshold of p \< 0.005 was applied. We used peak brain regions showing significant functional connectivity increases after interventions to report (i.e. for VGAIT, insula was used; for VGAIT control, hippocampus was used; for verum acupuncture, insula was used; for sham acupuncture, prefrontal cortex was used). Please note this is NOT a result, rather a description on analysis details.