AUTHOR=Zhang Weijun , Wu Lihua , Ye Ziyu , Wan Min , Fu Wen , Ning Baile , Wang Shanze , Xiong Li , Liu Jia , Zhang Pandeng , Zhong Jingxin , Fu Wenbin 
  
TITLE=Real-time change in dynamic cerebral autoregulation after acupuncture at GB34 (Yanglingquan): a self-controlled study
  
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology
  
VOLUME=Volume 17 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1681930
  
DOI=10.3389/fphys.2026.1681930
  
ISSN=1664-042X
  
ABSTRACT=BackgroundFew interventions have been proven to improve dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA). GB34 is a common acupoint for motor function treatment in the clinic. However, the effects of acupuncture on dCA have never been reported and whether acupuncture at GB34 can improve dCA is unknown.MethodsA self-controlled interventional study was conducted. Each participant randomly received two acupuncture interventions, including active acupuncture and sham acupuncture. Transcranial Doppler and servo-controlled finger photoplethysmography were used to record continuous cerebral blood flow velocity in the bilateral middle cerebral arteries and continuous blood pressure to assess dCA with transfer function analysis during acupuncture intervention.ResultsTwenty healthy volunteers were enrolled. The left and right phase values in the low-frequency band after acupuncture treatment were significantly higher than baseline levels. Meanwhile, a reduction in heart rate was observed after acupuncture treatment. In contrast, no real-time changes were observed in any parameters after sham acupuncture intervention.ConclusionThe results suggested that treatment with acupuncture at GB34 increased dCA in young healthy volunteers. The increased dCA may contribute to the beneficial effects of acupuncture on cerebrovascular function.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=121012, identifier ChiCTR2100042762.