Schematic illustration of BLP correlation alterations for the delta band.

<p>A. ST36 group. B. NAP group. Lines correspond to significant changes for the average Band-Limited Power (BLP) correlation induced by acupuncture and squares to significant change in the local BLP correlation (red: local increase in the BLP correlation following acupuncture; thin line: <i>P</i><0.05; thick line: <i>P</i><0.01; significance is based upon a paired <i>t</i>-test).</p

Schematic illustration of BLP correlation alterations for the beta band.

<p>A. ST36 group. B. NAP group. Lines correspond to significant changes for the average Band-Limited Power (BLP) correlation induced by acupuncture and squares to significant change in the local BLP correlation (red: local increase in the BLP correlation following acupuncture; thin line: <i>P</i><0.05; thick line: <i>P</i><0.01; significance is based upon a paired <i>t</i>-test).</p

Schematic illustration of BLP correlation alterations for the gamma band.

<p>A. ST36 group. B. NAP group. Lines correspond to significant changes for the average Band-Limited Power (BLP) correlation induced by acupuncture and squares to significant change in the local BLP correlation (red: local increase in the BLP correlation following acupuncture; thin line: <i>P</i><0.05; thick line: <i>P</i><0.01; significance is based upon a paired <i>t</i>-test).</p

Functional connectivity within and between main regions and statistical results in the beta bands for the ST36 and NAP groups.

<p>Significant differences are indicated in bold (<i>P</i><0.05). L = left, R = right. C = central, F = frontal, O = occipital, P = parietal, T = temporal. B_rest, resting data before acupuncture. P_rest, resting data after acupuncture.</p

Experimental paradigm.

<p>Panel A indicates that acupuncture stimulation was performed at acupoint ST36 on the right leg (Zusanli, arrow pointing to the red dot). Panel B indicates that needling was performed at an adjacent nonacupoint on the right leg (NAP, arrow pointing to the green dot). The red line refers to needle administration, and the blue line represents no acupuncture manipulation but with needles inserted, while the green long line indicates a 6 min resting state or post-stimulus resting state. In this study, the two 6 min resting epochs were employed, while the rest were used for further analysis.</p

Averaged psychophysical response.

<p>A. The percentage of subjects that reported the given sensations. The frequency of aching was found to be greater following acupuncture at ST36. B. The intensity of sensations measured by average score (with standard error bars) on a scale from 0 denoting no sensation to 10 denoting an unbearable sensation. Sore, soreness; Numb, numbness; Full, fullness; Cool, coolness; Warm, warmth; SP, sharp pain; DP, dull pain; Heav, heaviness; Tinl, tingling; Ach, aching; Press, pressure. C. The pain threshold evaluated by average score (with standard error bars) before and after acupuncture at ST36 and NAP. Significant elevation of the pain threshold was observed following acupuncture at ST36.</p