This review looked at how different settings in electroacupuncture, known as EA, affect the brain. Researchers looked at various factors including frequency, current intensity, waveform, and the specific acupoints chosen for treatment. They studied these effects in both human and animal models to see how the brain responds on a regional and network level.
Findings show that different frequencies—whether low, intermediate, high, or alternating—activate overlapping areas of the brain, such as the limbic and thalamic systems. However, each frequency creates a different balance of neurochemical and neurovascular responses. While current intensity shows specific thresholds for activation, evidence for other factors like waveform and duration is currently limited and mostly based on animal models.
Because the evidence is varied and not yet uniform, there is no single best way to set these parameters. Some data on pulse width is also currently insufficient. These findings suggest that the specific combination of electrical dose and acupoint selection works together to shape how the brain responds to treatment.
