Study on Rs-fMRI for Changes of Neural Activity in Local Brain Regions of Patients with Liver Qi Stagnation Syndrome

LI Danian1, ZHENG Yanting1, LIU Yujie1, YU Zhengmiao1, PENG Haojun1, PI Lihong1,

LIN Changfeng1, QIU Shijun1, CUI Ying2

1. The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China;

2. The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510150, China

Abstract: Objective To explore the regional brain activities in patients of liver qi stagnation syndrome by using resting functional magnet resonance imaging (Rs-fMRI); To provide imaging evidence for the changes in the inner neural mechanism of the brain of patients with liver qi stagnation syndrome. Methods Totally 66 cases were in liver qi stagnation syndrome group (liver qi stagnation patients) and 66 cases were in healthy control group (healthy cases). Rs-fMRI data of both groups were collected, and amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) method was used for analysis. Partial correlation analysis was performed on the ALFF value of abnormal brain areas, the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score, and the illness duration of patients with liver qi stagnation syndrome. Results Compared with healthy control group, liver qi stagnation syndrome group showed increased ALFF values in the right fusiform gyrus while decreased ALFF values in left insula, right superior frontal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus and left superior frontal gyrus, with statistical significance ( P< 0.01, AlphaSim correction, cluster size >19 voxels). The ALFF values of right middle frontal gyrus were positively correlated with