Neuroplasticicity mechanism of acupuncture for pain-induced emotions: From function to structure

Pain-induced emotions are the negative moods caused by pain, such as depression and anxiety. Acupuncture can effectively relieve pain-induced emotions, and its mechanism is closely related to the regulation of neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is composed of two types, functional neuroplasticity and structural neuroplasticity. (1) Acupuncture improves functional neuroplasticity by inhibiting the activation of microglia and astrocytes, regulating the expression of neurotransmitters and receptors, modulating cellular signal transduction pathways, and optimizing synaptic transmission efficiency. (2) Acupuncture improves structural neuroplasticity by modulating neuronal synaptic plasticity, inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, and up-regulating the expression of the BDNF/TrKB/CREB signaling pathway. Additionally, acupuncture up-regulates the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factors to improve both the functional and structural neuroplasticity, thus relieves pain-induced emotions. The above discovery provides an approach to the mechanism research of acupuncture for pain-induced emotions.