Author(s): Helmut Acker*, Wilhelm Ehleben, and Jorn M. Horschig
The functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) method was introduced in general medical practice to assess brain blood oxygenation alongside other physiological parameters such as 4-channel EEG, heart rate, blood oxygenation, blood volume changes, and autonomic nerve activity. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was employed to adjust the brain blood oxygenation data and analyze changes in these parameters. This approach shows potential for early detection of cerebral blood flow abnormalities linked to cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, acupuncture at the Hegu (LI4) point was used to stimulate brain neuronal networks in 5 healthy Control Patients (CPs) and 5 patients with Brain Disorders (BDPs). The main findings were:
fNIRS recordings of brain hemoglobin oxygenation provide insights into brain microcirculation and oxygen supply effectiveness.
Central brain acupuncture stimulation identifies deficits in brain microcirculation and oxygen supply in BDPs.
A 20-second acupuncture stimulation induced brain hypoxia in BDPs but not in CPs, likely due to mismatched arterial and venous microcirculation.
Combining fNIRS with ANN analysis to assess brain oxygen supply proves effective and user-friendly for detecting early signs of brain microcirculation dysregulation and monitoring therapeutic progress.
