Electroacupuncture on the Ophthalmic Branch of the Trigeminal Nerve Affects Cerebral Blood Flow in the Frontopolar Cortex During Mental Arithmetic: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the frontopolar cortex (FPC) during mental arithmetic tasks by 0.2 m A electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of the trigeminal nerve's ophthalmic branch. Materials and Methods: This study was a crossover, randomized clinical trial. The participants (19) were divided into a control and an EA group, and both groups performed 10-minute mental-arithmetic tasks. Subsequently, the control group was seated for 5 minutes, while the EA group received EA stimulated at 0.2 m A , 100 Hz, for 5 minutes. Then, the mental-arithmetic tasks were repeated. The primary outcome was oxygenated hemoglobin (OxyHb) levels in the FPC during the mental-arithmetic tasks. Data from 15 of the original 19 participants were analyzed. Results: EA stimulation elevated OxyHb levels significantly. In the right FPC, this occurred in channel (Ch) 4 and 6 ( P