Change in the P300 index – a pilot randomized controlled trial of low-frequency electrical stimulation of acupuncture points in middle-aged men and women
Choi KH, Kwon OS, Cho SJ, Lee S, Kang SY, Ryu YH · BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine · 2017 May 03
DOI 10.1186/s12906-017-1754-8
Objective
To investigate the effects of periodic low-frequency electrical stimulation applied to BL62 and KI6 on brain activity by analyzing the P300.
Conclusions
The low-frequency electrical stimulation of BL62 and KI6 positively influenced the prevention of natural cerebral aging, with increased P300 amplitude and decreased P300 latency, particularly among women.
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Insights
Repeated low-frequency electrical stimulation at two acupuncture points may enhance brain responses linked to attention and cognitive processing, particularly among women.
In a randomized, double-blind study, adults in their fifties received either genuine or sham low-frequency electrical stimulation at two acupuncture points over twelve sessions across one month. Brain activity was assessed before the first session and after the final session using event-related brain responses during a cognitive task.
Compared with sham stimulation, genuine stimulation was associated with faster and stronger brain responses, suggesting improved attention-related cognitive processing. The increase in response strength was especially evident across several central and frontal brain regions in women, supporting a possible protective influence against age-related cognitive slowing.
