Abstract: Objective To study the coordination mechanism of brain induced by stimulating on acupoints of different meridians by means of constructing cerebral cortex functional networks reflecting actual brain functional connections. Methods A 128-lead electroencephalogram (EEG) recording and analysis system was used to collect the EEG signals of 14 healthy subjects (eight males and six females) aged 21 to 25 in resting state and magnetic stimulation on the acupuncture points of Guangming (GB37) and Neiguan (PC6) located in different meridians from October to November, 2017. Then EEG sources were localized by group independent component analysis and standard low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography, and the statistical relationships of EEG components were calculated. Finally, alpha-wave cerebral cortex functional networks were constructed and analyzed based on complex network theory. Results The connections of brain regions associated with movement, vision increased in the stimulation of Guangming acupoint. The brain regions associated with movement, attention and working memory in the stimulation of the Neiguan acupoint were reduced in the network. Some common brain areas were activated and some changes of functional connections were similar. Conclusion The changes in the topological structure of brain networks are basically consistent with the efficacy of the acupuncture point during magnetic stimulation on Guangming and Neiguan of different meridians, however, it causes some similar changes in functional connectivity connections of some brain regions.

Key words: meridian, acupoint, magnetic stimulation, cerebral cortex functional network