Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34415492›Full record

ArticleBrain imaging and behavior2022

Electroacupuncture enhances resting-state functional connectivity between dorsal caudate and precuneus and decreases associated leptin levels in overweight/obese subjects.

Yang He, Karen M von Deneen, Guanya Li, Borong Jing, Yanyan Zhou, Kaiya Zhang, Yi Zhang, Yuanyuan Ren

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Brain imaging and behavior, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 20% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Resting-state brain dynamics are associated with body fat percentage and sympathetic outflow in healthy adults.Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Yang He *Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, Shaanxi, China.
Karen M von Deneen *Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, Shaanxi, China. vondenk@ufl.edu.
Guanya LiCenter for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, Shaanxi, China.
Borong JingDepartment of Acupuncture and Massage, Xi'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi, China.
Yanyan ZhouDepartment of Acupuncture and Massage, Xi'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi, China.
Kaiya ZhangDepartment of Acupuncture and Massage, Xi'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi, China.
Yi ZhangCenter for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, Shaanxi, China. yizhang@xidian.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0859-9735
Yuanyuan RenDepartment of Acupuncture and Massage, Xi'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi, China. yuanyuan_ren@126.com.
Xidian University · CNShaanxi University of Chinese Medicine · CNShaanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a safe and effective method for treating obesity. However, how it modulates reward-related brain activity/functional connectivity and gut hormones remains unclear. We employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) and resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) to investigate EA induced changes in resting-state activity and RSFC in reward-related regions and its association with gut hormones in overweight/obese subjects who received real (n = 20) and Sham (n = 15) stimulation. Results showed reduced leptin levels was positively correlated with reduced body mass index (BMI) and negatively correlated with increased cognitive-control as measured with Three-Factor-Eating-Questionnaire (TFEQ). Significant time effects on RSFC between dorsal caudate (DC) and precuneus were due to significant increased RSFC strength in both EA and Sham groups. In addition, increased RSFC of DC-precuneus was negatively correlated with reduced BMI and leptin levels in the EA group. Mediation analysis showed that the relationship between increased DC-precuneus RSFC strength and reduced BMI was mediated by reduced leptin levels. These findings reflect the association between EA-induced brain reward-related RSFC and leptin levels, and decreased leptin levels mediated altered DC-precuneus RSFC strength and consequent weight-loss, suggesting the potential role of EA in reducing weight and appetite.

Indexed as

ElectroacupunctureOverweightHumansLeptinMagnetic Resonance ImagingObesityParietal LobeLEP protein, humanLeptinDorsal caudateElectroacupunctureLeptinObesityRSFC

Identifiers

PMID34415492
OpenAlexW3193576655

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.