SynthesisFrontiers in neurology2025
Hotspots and trends in acupuncture combined with non-invasive neuromodulation technology in the past 20 years: a bibliometric analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Combined noninvasive brain stimulation and acupuncture for post-stroke motor recovery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurology · 2026Pooled it
- Research trends and hotspots of electroacupuncture for depression: a bibliometric and visual analysis (2005-2025).Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Non-invasive neuromodulation (NIN) technology, a promising approach in the field of neuromodulation, has been employed to address a diverse array of disorders, with an increasing volume of research emerging. Traditional Chinese acupuncture has also been utilized as a complementary and preventive therapy for various ailments. Nevertheless, the publication trends and research hotspots at the intersection of acupuncture and NIN technology remain largely unexplored. This study aims to systematically analyze the publication trends and research hotspots related to the convergence of acupuncture and NIN over the past two decades using bibliometric methods. Methods: We collected literature data on the combination of acupuncture and NIN technology from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2023, utilizing the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database. This data was imported into CiteSpace (version 6.2. R4) and RStudio to facilitate a visual analysis of research hotspots and trends, categorized by author, country/region, affiliation, annual publication, keywords, and journal. Results: A total of 803 articles were retrieved, encompassing contributions from 55 countries, 468 research institutions, and 360 academic journals. The People's Republic of China leads in publication volume with 390 articles, followed by Capital Medical University and Peking University, each contributing 27 articles. Among the authors, HAN JS has the highest number of co-citations, totaling 142. Additionally, the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine is noted for publishing the most papers in this field. Recent research hotspots regarding acupuncture combined with NIN technology primarily focus on topics such as "postoperative gastrointestinal function," "postoperative analgesia," "postoperative nausea and vomiting," "acupuncture analgesia," "reproductive medicine," "inflammation," "chronic low back pain," and "postoperative pain." The predominant intervention method identified is TEAS technology, which integrates acupuncture with modern electrical stimulation as an innovative clinical treatment approach. Conclusion: The publications on acupuncture combined with NIN technology have made significant progress; however, there is still a need to strengthen international academic exchanges and cooperation among scientific researchers and institutions to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and academic innovation. Furthermore, future studies should focus on enhancing the overall quality of research outcomes in this field and reinforcing research programs.
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Registered trials
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.