ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of acupuncture on cortical functional areas of the patient with ischemic stroke activated by the index finger motion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cortical magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were carried out in 15 cases of ischemic stroke during the index finger motion at acupuncture or non-acupuncture. The distribution of the cortical functional areas activated and the size of the activated region and the intension of signals were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The finger motion with no acupuncture could activate the contralateral primary somatomotor area (M1), contralateral premotor area (PMA) and contralateral first somatosensory area (S1). The finger motion with acupuncture could activate the same areas and also activate ipsilateral M1, focus area contralateral superior parietal lobule, contralateral superior temporal gyrus, and contralateral insular lobe, etc.. Both the area of the activated region and the minimum signal in the finger motion with acupuncture were statistically significantly larger than those in finger motion with no acupuncture.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rehabilitation of motor functions of the patient with ischemic stroke by acupuncture is related with improvement of blood circulation functional area in the cortex.</p>