Assessing the Modulatory Effects of tDCS and Acupuncture on Cerebral Blood Flow in Chronic Low Back Pain Using Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion Imaging

These results suggest both shared and distinct patterns of CBF changes between real and sham tDCS, as well as between real and sham acupuncture, reflecting mode-dependent effects on brain networks involved in pain processing and modulation. Our findings highlight the different neural circuits implicated in the therapeutic mechanisms of tDCS and acupuncture in the management of cLBP.