OBJECTIVEThe research regarding the central mechanism of acupuncture (arrival of ) based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in recent 10 years was analyzed to summarize existing research achievements and experience.

METHODSThe literature regarding fMRI-based research published from January of 2007 through December of 2016 in CNKI and PubMed databases was collected. The research content and methods, including research design, inclusion criteria, acupoint selection and evaluation, were analyzed.

RESULTSTotally 18 articles regarding the central mechanism of acupuncture based on fMRI was included. According to research content, the literature was divided into two categories: research and sensation research. In research, the differences of and not on brain functional activity were compared to summarize the central response pattern of ; in sensation research, the differences of different sensations and intensities of on central response were compared to explore the effects of different sensations and intensities of on brain functional activity. In recent 10 years, the number of research gradually increased, and the type of design was various, mainly RCT and paired design. The majority of participants was healthy people, and single acupoint was the focus of researches, including Zusanli (ST 36), Waiguan (TE 5), Hegu (LI 4), etc. The evaluation of was based on visual analogue scale (VAS). The research contents were mainly the effects of and not and different sensations on brain function activities. The present studies confirmed that and not as well as different sensations had different impacts on brain functional effects, and different acupoints had specific activated brain areas. There was a positive correlation between the degree of and the intensity of the activation of brain regions. Furthermore, tingling sensation was not included to sensations.

CONCLUSIONThe number and quality of fMRI-based research need to be improved; the research content is simple, and research method is in exploratory stage. The results obtained in the literature are the phenomena of in the central level, and it is imperative to summarize the essential link between and the central effect through these phenomena to reveal the mechanism of . The specific impact of for brain function needs more clinical exploration.