Possible antidepressant mechanism of acupuncture: targeting neuroplasticity

Xu N, He Y, Wei YN, Bai L, Wang L · Frontiers in Neuroscience · 2025 February 13

DOI 10.3389/fnins.2025.1512073

Objective

To investigate the neuroplasticity-based targets and neurobiological mechanisms associated with acupuncture's antidepressant effects in depression, including relevant acupoints and electroacupuncture parameters.

Conclusions

This review summarizes two decades of evidence indicating that acupuncture may alleviate depression by modulating neuroplasticity and related neurobiological processes, and details treatment parameters relevant to clinical application.

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Insights

Acupuncture may relieve depression by reshaping brain plasticity pathways involved in mood regulation, emotional processing, and neurotransmitter balance.

This review synthesized two decades of research examining how acupuncture influences neurobiological processes linked to depression. It focused on brain plasticity targets, neurotransmitter regulation, emotional brain networks, acupuncture points, and electrical stimulation settings used in depression treatment. The reviewed evidence suggests that acupuncture supports antidepressant effects by modulating neural connections, chemical signaling, and activity within brain regions involved in emotion. These changes may help restore disrupted brain adaptability and improve mood-related functioning.