Certain brain regions are consistently involved in various mental disorders, suggesting potential new therapeutic targets for acupuncture and electrical brain stimulation techniques.
In the study, the researchers implemented Neurosynth Compose to conduct a wide-ranging, coordinate-based analysis in order to identify potential brain regions associated with nine mental disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, amongst others. The identified regions were then translated onto the scalp's surface and used to accurately define intervention points in alignment with standard acupoints and the EEG 10-20 system, bypassing the need for a direct brain access.
The comprehensive analysis successfully outlined scalp intervention areas for all the disorders investigated. The results largely supported existing clinical procedures but also proposed previously undisclosed regions as potential therapeutic sites of interest. There were areas found relevant to specific conditions, but interestingly, they also discovered that the dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortices, middle temporal gyrus, and inferior parietal lobule were applicable to multiple psychiatric conditions. The results from this research could significantly contribute to the refinement of treatment protocols for scalp acupuncture and brain stimulation as well as inspire the development of new therapeutic strategies in the field of psychiatry.
