Hotspots and trends in acupuncture combined with non-invasive neuromodulation technology in the past 20 years: A Bibliometric Analysis

Song Li¹Anhong Dai²Yihao Zhou³Xu Chen¹Yizhou Chen¹Li Zhou¹Xiaolin Yang¹Mengqi Yue¹Jing Shi^4*Yong Qiu^1*

• ¹Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
• ²Yan'an Hospital Affiliated To Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
• ³Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
• ⁴First Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

Background Non-invasive neuromodulation (NIN) technology, a promising approach in the field of neuromodulation, has been employed to address a diverse array of disorders, with an increasing volume of research emerging. Traditional Chinese acupuncture has also been utilized as a complementary and preventive therapy for various ailments. Nevertheless, the publication trends and research hotspots at the intersection of acupuncture and NIN technology remain largely unexplored. This study aims to systematically analyze the publication trends and research hotspots related to the convergence of acupuncture and NIN over the past two decades using bibliometric methods. Methods: We collected literature data on the combination of acupuncture and NIN technology from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2023, utilizing the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database. This data was imported into CiteSpace (version 6.2.R4) and RStudio to facilitate a visual analysis of research hotspots and trends, categorized by author, country/region, affiliation, annual publication, keywords, and journal. Results: A total of 803 articles were retrieved, encompassing contributions from 55 countries, 468 research institutions, and 360 academic journals. The People's Republic of China leads in publication volume with 390 articles, followed by Capital Medical University and Peking University, each contributing 27 articles. Among the authors, HAN JS has the highest number of co-citations, totaling 142. Additionally, the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine is noted for publishing the most papers in this field. Recent research hotspots regarding acupuncture combined with NIN technology primarily focus on topics such as "postoperative gastrointestinal function," "postoperative analgesia," "postoperative nausea and vomiting," "acupuncture analgesia," "reproductive medicine," "inflammation," "chronic low back pain," and "postoperative pain." The predominant intervention method identified is TEAS technology, which integrates acupuncture with modern electrical stimulation as an innovative clinical treatment approach. Conclusion: The publications on acupuncture combined with NIN technology have made significant progress; however, there is still a need to strengthen international academic exchanges and cooperation among scientific researchers and institutions to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and academic innovation. Furthermore, future studies should focus on enhancing the overall quality of research outcomes in this field and reinforcing research programs.