Magnetoencephalography study of the Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture during acupuncture and language task states in healthy volunteers: a single-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: The Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture protocol is a well-established technique in traditional Chinese medicine, widely used for neurological rehabilitation, particularly in patients with post-stroke aphasia. However, the central neural mechanisms underlying both single-acupoint and multi-acupoint needling within this protocol remain largely unclear. This study aims to use magnetoencephalography (MEG) to compare the cerebral magnetic signals evoked by verum and sham acupuncture of the Xingnao Kaiqiao protocol in healthy adults, and to explore the central mechanisms associated with language task states. METHODS: This is a single-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial. A total of 40 healthy, right-handed volunteers aged 18-45 years will be recruited and randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the verum acupuncture (VA) group or the sham acupuncture (SA) group. The VA group will receive needling at the standard Xingnao Kaiqiao acupoints, following the protocol's established manipulation techniques. The SA group will receive superficial needling at non-acupoints located 1 cun lateral to each corresponding verum acupoint, without any manipulation. MEG data will be acquired during resting state, acupuncture state (single-acupoint and multi-acupoint sequences), and language task state (picture naming and language repetition tasks). Structural MRI data will be collected for source localization. The primary outcome will be changes in MEG signals before and after acupuncture. The secondary outcome will be the Chinese version of the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (C-MASS). DISCUSSION: This study will use MEG to explore the central effects of Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture at both single-acupoint and multi-acupoint levels. It may add to current understanding of how acupuncture affects brain networks related to language processing. The findings may provide a neuroimaging basis for further research on the mechanisms of this classical acupuncture technique. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry (https://itmctr.ccebtcm.org.cn/) ITMCTR2026000214. This study was registered on 14th January 2026.