Electroencephalogram Changes Induced by Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation

September 13, 2026 updated by: Beijing Chao Yang Hospital

Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of Transcutaneous Electroacupuncture on Brain Functional Connectivity in Postoperative Pain Patients Based on Electroencephalography

A total of 90 subjects underwent abdominal surgery under general anesthesia at Chaoyang Hospital in Beijing. The subjects were divided into a percutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation group and a control group. The subjects were selected for TEAS stimulation at the Neiguan, Hegu, and Zusanli acupoints on both sides, and EEG data were collected using a 32 lead EEG cap test throughout the entire process. During the experiment, changes in hemodynamic parameters (blood pressure, heart rate) and perioperative pain scores of the subjects will be recorded.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

90

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • China
      • Beijing, China
        • Recruiting
        • Affiliated Beijing Chaoyang Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:1. Age between 18 and 80 years; 2. ASA physical status classification I-II; 3. Scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery under general anesthesia (e.g., gastrectomy, colorectal cancer surgery, etc.); 4. Consent to participate in the study and signing of the informed consent form.

-

Exclusion Criteria:1. Impaired cognitive function or language communication disorders; 2. Mental disorders, epilepsy, or abnormal EEG activity; 3. Receipt of acupoint therapy within two weeks prior to surgery; 4. Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or metal implants; 5. Allergy to surface electrodes; 6. Concomitant medical conditions (e.g., dermatological disorders) that may affect treatment or trial administration.

-

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation group
Group description: Participants in the reorganization will receive TEAS stimulation at bilateral Neiguan, Hegu, and Zusanli acupoints, and EEG data will be collected throughout the entire process using a 32 lead EEG cap test. During the experiment, changes in hemodynamic parameters (blood pressure, heart rate) and perioperative pain scores of the subjects will be recorded.
Device: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation
Group description: Participants in this group will receive TEAS stimulation at the bilateral Neiguan, Hegu, and Zusanli acupoints 30 minutes before the start of the surgery, and their EEG data will be collected throughout the entire process using a 32 lead EEG cap test. During the experiment, the changes in hemodynamic parameters (blood pressure, heart rate) of the subjects during surgery will be recorded, as well as the perioperative pain scores of the subjects at 1 hour and 24 hours after surgery.
No Intervention: Control group
Attach electrodes to the same area but do not apply stimulation, while informing the patient that percutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation therapy has been performed

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Electroencephalogram analysis
Time Frame: Five - minute baseline EEG data with eyes closed during wakefulness；EEG data during pre - operative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation；Immediate post - operative EEG data
Changes in EEG in the experimental group with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation compared to the baseline, as well as post - operative EEG changes in the experimental group and the control group.Including：node clustering coefficient，node efficiency，normalized mean clustering coefficient，normalized path length，modularity，small-world network
Five - minute baseline EEG data with eyes closed during wakefulness；EEG data during pre - operative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation；Immediate post - operative EEG data

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patients' VAS score
Time Frame: 24 hours after surgery
Patients' VAS scores24 hours after surgery
24 hours after surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Beijing Chao Yang Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

October 31, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 28, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 6, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 13, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 13, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026-ke-49

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Subscribe